Author's Note: This is the final chapter and it also contains smut.
They hadn't been home that long when Narcissa and Wendell emerged from their room, clearly dressed to go out. Draco was confused. He and Hermione were still lounging around in the casual clothes they had put on after they had showered off the ocean — separately of course. Like the proper gentlemen he had been raised to be, he let Hermione go first. Of course, he also wanked off in the shower when it was his turn — recalling her in her bathing suit and remembering the feel of her in his arms as they played in the ocean — so perhaps he could use a refresher on the rules of etiquette.
"Mother — what's going on?"
"Wendell and I are going out for the evening. I'm so sorry, but we forgot about an unavoidable prior engagement. Maybe you two could watch a movie?" Narcissa said airily. Draco was confused, but before he had a chance to interject, his mother continued. "Can't be helped darling. Plans were set months ago. I just opened a nice bottle of wine for you two and left it in the kitchen. Make sure you drink it so it doesn't spoil. We will not be back until very late."
Subtle.
Narcissa simply did not bother with the levels of subterfuge she previously employed in order to survive living in Malfoy Manor. Although, Draco supposed there was no real need for secrecy here. Clearly Mother was seeking to engineer a situation where he and Hermione were left alone in the house. Draco wanted that as well, so he wasn't about to complain. Narcissa and Wendell excused themselves from the house so quickly Draco could have sworn they apparated. Soon, he was alone with Hermione and an open bottle of wine.
Draco poured two glasses and handed one to her. She took it with thanks.
"Wendell has the third Die Hard movie. Want to finish out the trilogy?" she asked.
Draco sighed and set his glass down on the nearest end table. "Does it involve planes?"
"Ah, it's not set on a plane or in an airport this time. I think it's the least plane oriented of the three. Also, the main villain this time is Hans Gruber's brother."
"Does he also look just like Snape?"
"No . And I'm telling you Draco, I just don't see it."
"Let me propose an alternative." He had no interest in watching a movie anyway. Also she was so wrong about Hans Gruber's appearance, he knew he would only argue with her about it if they did watch it. Which seemed counter-productive for his long term goals. "Let me talk to you first, then afterwards we can turn on the movie if you'd like."
She frowned slightly before responding to him. "Alright, what would you like to talk about?" she asked, bringing her wine glass from one hand to the other, fidgeting with the bottom of it. Draco turned his body towards her, placing a bent elbow on the back of the couch, resting his head on his palm and looked at her intently. Her eyes briefly went to his mouth before snapping back to meet his gaze.
"About us."
Hermione tensed. "We talked about us yesterday, Draco. And I don't think there have been any new developments since then that would require revisiting it."
"Point of fact, we didn't talk yesterday. You talked yesterday and I listened. I haven't talked yet. I would like to have more of an actual conversation about this. Please."
Hermione swallowed her wine in a gulp and then put it down beside her, turning her full attention to Draco. "I don't see the point, but go ahead."
"I think you're wrong."
She blinked. Draco let the silence stretch out.
"Do you care to elaborate?" she asked, testily as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Granger, I know you are upset about your parents and about what you think you've discovered about their marriage."
Hermione frowned at him and shook her head slightly. "Draco, I know my mum was pregnant when they got married. I figured that out when I was six."
"Doesn't mean you know how they felt about it. They could have been happily married and just grown apart recently. You didn't make them get or stay married. That is completely separate from the memory alteration and I don't think you can take one small thing Monica said and run with it. She doesn't have all the information either. Even if you weren't planned, it doesn't mean they were unhappy with their lives. "
Hermione made a face, seemingly unconvinced.
"Being unexpected doesn't mean you weren't wanted , just like being planned doesn't necessarily mean you were wanted. Certainly doesn't mean you were wanted for the right reasons. I was meticulously planned. By many generations that came before me. None of those plans were made out of love. My mother never wanted to marry Father, as it turns out. They weren't even friends. I think they tolerated each other before Voldemort returned, but after that — not so much. Mother is very carefully not telling me the degree to which her tenure as Lady Malfoy was not her choice. Your parents like each other so much that they are still best friends after they got divorced. I do not think that you were some great burden on them, love. I don't think you could be a burden on anyone. Do you know what the world would look like if you weren't here? Thank Merlin your parents had you, Hermione."
Hermione started to sniffle as her eyes filled with tears, but she said nothing.
"It's awful that you had to sacrifice their memories to keep them alive, awful. But it was absolutely the right thing to do. And those two people might not be in love anymore, but they still love each other. And they also love my mum, which is nice of them. So I can't imagine that they had some sort of terrible existence as a married couple before you had to act to keep them safe."
Hermione sniffed as she wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. She bit her lip as she thought, before sighing and speaking in a slightly reluctant tone. "It's possible I may have drawn too firm a conclusion based on the available evidence."
Draco had shared an office with her long enough to know that was the closest he was going to get to her admitting she was wrong.
"Excellent. Now I want to talk about us. Is this what you really want? For us to be friends ?" He raised an eyebrow and let that word hang out in the air this time. They should be dating. At the very least they should be shagging. He knew it and deep down, Draco believed she knew it too — he just needed to get past her carefully constructed walls.
Hermione sighed. "Draco, it's not exactly what I want, so much as it's the best option for the situation at hand."
"I disagree. Hermione. I would never, ever try to keep you away from your father. Or your mother. I would like to point out that when I first suggested bringing you into my life to facilitate contact, you were actively sabotaging my office supplies."
"It's not about you punishing me if we break up Draco, it's about me using you to see my family. And that's not the right thing to do to you. So I feel that the best we can do is friends." She managed a small smile in his direction, but her eyes were sorrowful.
"Then why does that make you sad?"
"Because — because I like you, Draco. But I don't want to hurt you."
"I know you don't. And I don't think you will hurt me, Hermione. I don't think that's where this reluctance is coming from. I think you are still punishing yourself about what happened with your parents. And I also think you need to stop doing that." He smoothed a curl back from her face, tucking it behind her ear, before moving his hands away from her.
Hermione's eyes were huge, and she was worrying her lip between her teeth so ferociously that Draco was concerned she'd draw blood. It was her thinking deeply face. Realising he had her attention, Draco rushed to continue speaking.
"If our parents weren't together at all anymore — he remembers his past and leaves or she tells him she's a witch and he leaves. Or something mundane. Like she can't stand how he just throws his socks on the floor when he takes them off. Point is, they are separated and I cannot help you see your dad. Would you date me then?
Hermione stopped chewing on her lip to answer his question. "Yes. Yes, I would. But they are together, Draco. And I don't expect that to change anytime soon — if ever. So that is essentially a thought exercise. It doesn't change reality — my reality."
"Except that I think it does. If you would date me if Wendell wasn't involved with Mother, then you should be dating me now. Hermione, you aren't using me for anything except as the new excuse for why you are punishing yourself for the things you had to do in order to get your family through the war. And I know a bit about what that's like. I think you are deliberately denying yourself something you want to pursue out of a misplaced sense of guilt. You aren't helping anyone by punishing yourself, Granger."
"I don't want to use you so I can feel safe and protected and loved again. That's not fair to you. You deserve someone who wants you for you and not because you can do things for them. And the temptation for me is too great. I think you deserve better, Draco."
"Except I don't think you are learning from a past mistake, Hermione. I think you are so bloody smart that your giant brain can give you a good enough sounding reason for anything. You aren't trying to nobly protect me from you — you wouldn't hurt me, Granger and you know it. You are punishing yourself for no bloody reason. You think I deserve better than you ? By all rights Granger, you should never speak to me at all. You should slap my face whenever you see it. I do not fathom why you would ever consider dating me, after everything I've done. But I'll be damned if I let you think that you are not worthy of me . You are worth everything. I don't know of a better person than you."
Hermione burst into tears. He held her.
"See. You are so good, Draco. I don't want to hurt you." She sobbed, clutching his shirt.
"Hermione, mad witch. Don't mourn our breakup before we even get to be together. We'd be really good together, Granger, so good. I've had a recent opportunity to conduct a field test. The hypothesis holds true." He really hoped he was using her Muggle terms correctly, here. Draco took a deep breath and continued. "Out of all the things that have happened to us since we've met, is this really where you want to draw the line? Possible future harm in a worst case scenario? What if we're together forever? What if we break up and we are both really relaxed about it and you become Auntie Hermione to my future children with Mrs. Not-You?"
Hermione snorted with laughter, before hurriedly covering her nose and looking embarrassed. Draco looked at her fondly. "This isn't an either or situation. We can try to see if we can make this real. And you can be assured that you will always have access to your parents if I am in a position to provide it — just like I know that you aren't using me, Granger. These are separate things."
Hermione looked at him, her face solemn. She swallowed and nervously wrung her hands. "Draco are you sure?"
"Merlin, yes Granger. I am sure."
"Okay."
"Okay?" Salazar's bloody Ballsack, did this work?
"Okay."
"Finally ."
He reached for her face, bringing her lips under his and she melted in his arms as he pulled her close. She tasted of wine. He licked into the seam of her mouth and she moaned softly, giving his tongue passage to explore her mouth. He brought her closer to him, feeling electrified at being allowed to touch her in this way, without pretence and with the knowledge that there would be more opportunities to do it again in the future.
They parted to catch their breath. Draco's pants had become a bit tighter over the past few minutes and he shifted on the couch uncomfortably. "Do we have to watch the movie?" he asked, looking at her intently, pressing his erection into her as he spoke.
Hermione grinned at him. "No. I can describe enough of the plot for you to convincingly fake it for Wendell. We can add it to the list of things he'll never know about."
He smiled at her fondly. "I had no idea you were already this corrupt, Hermione. Where is the rule-following swot from Hogwarts?"
"Ha! I've always been like this, Malfoy. I'll have you know, I set Snape on fire on purpose when he was sitting in the Quidditch stands during a match first year."
"Fuck me, that was you?" Draco felt his trousers become even more tight at her admission. Eventually, he was going to need Hermione to provide him with an itemised list of her former crimes so he was prepared in advance. It wouldn't do for her to keep catching him off guard with her surprisingly extensive resume of badassery.
Hermione smirked at his choice of words. "Ahem . Yes. That was me. And second year I stole potions ingredients from his cupboard and I brewed polyjuice potion in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. That was my secret clubhouse at Hogwarts first, you know."
The fuck — second year? Smartest witch alive. He had just been kissing the smartest witch alive. "What on earth did you need polyjuice for in second year?"
"Oh no. That's not a story I'm just giving away."
Well now Draco was very intrigued. "What will it take?"
"Tenth wedding anniversary," she mumbled under her breath, before she froze. Draco watched as Granger started blushing as she realised the implications of what she had just said, her eyes wide. She gamely tried to recover. "Yours or mine. Whichever one happens first."
He reached forward, sweeping her curls away from the side of her face, tiling her head back as he leaned closer to her. "And if it's ours?"
"Well," she paused and licked her lips. Fuck she was gorgeous. "I think that is at best wildly premature to speculate as to that possibility. But technically, allowable under the rules I just outlined. I would have to tell you then."
"Since marriage is premature, how about girlfriend? In reality, to be clear. Not pretend. Not temporary. Just, please be my girlfriend Hermione." He ran his thumb over her trembling lower lip, before bringing his mouth over hers, swallowing a tiny gasp from her as he did.
He pulled back, looking into her eyes. Hermione blinked up at him and took a deep breath. "Yes," she said simply.
"Yes?" He felt his heart leap.
"Yes. I want you to be my boyfriend, Draco," she was blushing and it was the most fucking adorable thing he had ever seen and he was going to kiss his girlfriend because she was so cute.
The kisses on the couch turned into outright snogging quickly. She was underneath him, trembling under his touch as he had his hand over her shirt, caressing her still clothed perfect tits. She groaned and he felt himself become even more aroused.
"Can I? Hermione, can we —" he panted inarticulately.
"Oh we definitely can, but just give me a minute." Hermione grabbed her wand and hastily cast the same ward she had used earlier, so they would be notified in advance of Narcissa and Wendell's return, grinning at Draco as she did so. "Otherwise with my luck, we have both our parents walk in on us and then I'd have to move to Antarctica out of shame, assuming I didn't just die from embarrassment on the spot."
They started kissing again. Draco poured every feeling he had into his kiss, holding her face close to his, willing her to feel his affection and desire for her. She moaned softly as he slid his hand under her sweatshirt and caressed her through her bra. She pulled his shirt out from his pants and helped him pull it off over his shoulders. He returned the favour and when they came back together he groaned at the feel of her breasts pressed against his bare chest.
Hermione really got over her initial reluctance and she climbed into his lap, grinding over his hardened length. It was Draco's turn to moan and soon he was flipping her so her back was on the couch. She gasped and then they were snogging again, her legs opening as he slid in between, her legs wrapped around him. She writhed beneath him and Draco was very grateful he had attended to himself earlier in the shower, otherwise this might have been over before it began.
"Fuck, Granger. You are perfect," he breathed into her mouth as he pulled back and started taking off her pants and knickers.
"Draco —" she breathed, reaching for his pants, helping him push them down past his hips. Soon, there was nothing between them except heat and desire.
"Are you — are you on the potion?" He didn't see her taking any, come to think of it.
"No. We need to do the charm."
Draco grabbed his wand and hastily took care of the administrative hassle. Then he kissed her slowly, before moving down her body and settling in between her legs. Fuck — she tasted like all of his dreams coming true at once, which at this point in his life, might be the literal truth. He had no dreams for the future that didn't prominently feature the witch who was presently spasming violently beneath him, her hands painfully gripping his platinum locks as she screamed his name. Draco looked up, feeling pretty smug about the sounds he had managed to pull out of her.
She caught a look at his face and rolled her eyes. Then she put her hands on his shoulders until he leaned back, apparently intent on evening the score.
The sight of Hermione Granger bobbing up and down on him would fuel his masturbation mental imagery for the rest of his life — of that he had no doubt. Draco sighed and his head lolled back, his mouth open. Hermione hummed in satisfaction around him and he almost lost it right there.
"Granger — stop, or this is going to be over too soon." He managed to choke out. She paused her efforts, detaching herself and placing a soft kiss on his thigh, before smirking at him.
He smiled back at her. "Are you ready for this Granger?"
"Yes, Draco."
"Hands and knees, love."
She paused for a minute, and then did as he asked, resting on the couch with her glorious arse presented to him. He ran his hand appreciatively over her curves, before lining up and slowly — very slowly — moving inside of her as she moaned and clenched around him.
"Relax , Hermione. I will take care of you."
Hermione shivered and Draco pushed and pushed until he was fully seated inside her, enveloped by her wet heat. Fuck she felt amazing. This was amazing. He couldn't believe he was inside of her like this and at the same time, Draco felt like he was made to be inside of her like this.
She felt like home.
And then he started to move. He thrust slowly at first, wanting to stretch this moment out as long as possible. Hermione's panting breaths became louder and soon she was whimpering again. She began to clench around his cock and Draco almost came the first time she tightened around him. He thrust faster, harder, trying to fill her as completely as he could.
"Draco, I'm going to —"
He reached his hand around and pressed the heel of his hand against her apex and she shattered, moaning his name as found her release again. Draco couldn't hold out much longer after feeling her come apart around him, and soon he was roaring his own release as he spilled inside of Hermione, whispering a combination of epitaphs and praise into her ear as she shuddered beneath him.
And then the bloody lights went on and off. Fuck. How long had they been kissing before they got to the main show? Draco had completely lost track of time.
"Oh fuck. Get out of me!" Hermione muttered beneath him.
He quickly obeyed. She grabbed her wand and quickly scourifyied them both — and the couch. "Grab my clothes."
He picked up her sweatshirt from behind the couch and tossed it to her. It bounced off her chest and hit the ground, as her hands were occupied with pulling up her underwear. She glared at him.
Draco winced. "Sorry, love."
"Whatever, just get your clothes on!"
They dressed quickly and Hermione quickly popped in the dvd and turned on the tv. She picked up the remote control and hurriedly pressed buttons, skipping through the entirety of the movie to get to the end credits.
She looked at the end table. "Fuck — finish that wine, Draco."
"They are coming up the walkway now, Granger."
"Then stop talking and drink faster," she snapped, frantically pressing buttons.
They got into position on the couch just before Wendell and Narcissa walked into the house. Draco knew he was flushed — between chugging the remains of both glasses of wine while Hermione was busily fixing the screen — as well as coming inside of her just moments before — he was red and still slightly out of breath. Hermione's face was also flaming — likely a combination of embarrassment at having almost been caught, as well the frantic effort of redressing so quickly. There was no way they were be able to really hide what they had been up to while their parents had been away.
"Kids, we're home!" came Wendell's voice, his tone mischievous.
"Hello Wendell, hello mum." Draco called out in response, not sure if he nailed his nonchalant tone. Narcissa and Wendell entered the room. Narcissa looked pleased and slightly smug. Wendell just looked entertained.
"So, how was the movie?" Wendell winked at Draco and Draco felt his cheeks get even more heated. He had just debauched the man's daughter in his own home, not that Wendell would ever know.
But Draco knew.
"It was great, Wendell." Hermione answered for him, sounding only a bit out of breath. "How was your evening out?"
"Wonderful, dear." Narcissa responded. "Did you two have a lovely time with your evening in?" There was a slight raise of one eyebrow. Very slight. Not so slight it went unnoticed by Draco or Hermione, but slight.
Hermione blushed harder. "Yes, thank you Narcissa."
"Well, don't let us keep you from anything. We're off to bed. See you in the morning. Ta!"
Once they were alone again, Hermione dissolved into a fit of giggles. Draco looked at her for a minute, shaking his head. When Hermione saw that, she laughed harder. Draco smiled and started chuckling before it developed into full-blown laughter from him as well — Hermione's fit being infectious, apparently. When she noticed him laughing, she snorted and then laughed harder. He pulled her onto his lap and once they managed to regain control of themselves, he kissed her long and slow. She sighed and buried her face in his chest when they broke apart.
"Let's go to bed as well, girlfriend. I find myself exhausted."
Hermione smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek. "I agree, boyfriend. I find that I am also quite worn out."
They walked up to the guest room, hand in hand, before falling asleep in each other's arms.
The rest of their time in Australia was more or less bliss, as far as Draco was concerned. Hermione still had moments of sadness about her father and mother, but it was tempered by the joy she had in getting to spend time with them. She seemed to be finding peace with their collective situation, which meant she was no longer as troubled by misplaced guilt. Narcissa was thrilled beyond words that Draco had managed to turn his fake relationship into a real one. She graciously didn't gloat, proving again that she was a far better person than Draco. He would have been insufferable about it if he had been in her shoes.
His mother had been right. Hermione might not be perfect, but he strongly believed that she might be perfect for him. For the first time in a long time, Draco was hopeful about his future.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
"Is Hermione almost ready, mum?"
"Yes dear, but you shouldn't be here. It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding."
Draco rolled his eyes at his mother. They were already married in a binding ceremony in London a few months before and Narcissa knew it. She had been there, after all.
"Draco, it's tradition." ' Muggle tradition' went unsaid, but it was what Narcissa intended. "Monica is just fixing her makeup. Hermione got a bit teary. Happy tears, of course."
"Fine. I will wait downstairs."
"Just go outside. I will bring her down when we're ready. It should only be a few more minutes."
Draco smiled at his mother, bringing her in for a hug. She hugged him back, giving him a kiss on his cheek. He went downstairs and into the back garden that was set up for a small, intimate wedding. There were rows of seating laid out in front of an awning, with flowers lining the aisle. The guests were milling about before waiting to take their seats. Theo Nott and his wife Astoria made the trek to Australia and they were sticking very close to Harry and Ginny Potter, of all people — the desire to be close to other people unfamiliar with Muggles outweighing any lingering awkwardness between the four. They actually were getting along pretty well all things considered — Draco hoped that they were on their way to becoming friends in truth, although they were still mostly 'friends of friends.' Theo raised an eyebrow at Draco when he caught his eye.
"She'll just be another moment. Everyone should take their seats."
Wendell came up behind Draco and clapped him on the back. "I told you that you two were made for each other. Good job on picking that one."
Draco smiled to himself. "I agree, Wendell. Not sure that I picked her, so much as fate was kind enough to put her in my path enough until I wised up, but I agree. Despite a tumultuous past, we are very well suited to one another. And thank you Wendell, for agreeing to walk Hermione down the aisle."
"Ah, it's the least I could do as the last father standing. And please don't take this the wrong way, but of the two of you — much as I do truly love you, son — I think she's my favourite."
Draco laughed, not offended in the slightest. That at least, was how it should be. "I completely understand, Wendell. She's my favourite too."
The ceremony was brief — something Hermione described as non-denominational, whatever that meant. Granger — or more accurately, Mrs. Granger- Malfoy — was just as beautiful in the more casual summer wedding dress she wore here as she had been in the resplendent gown she had worn at the Manor for their magical ceremony. Draco wore a light coloured linen suit to match and he thought he looked quite fetching in the Muggle attire himself. Certainly, Hermione liked it when he didn't hide his arse behind traditional wizarding robes.
Or so he had been told.
They exchanged vows and Draco was overjoyed to have the privilege of looking at his wife in another gown, on another day and to again have the opportunity to promise her again that he would love her for the rest of his life. Not that Draco felt he needed to promise that. At this point, he couldn't stop loving her if he tried.
All three of their parents teared up. Over the past two years, Monica was informally adopted by the four of them, referring to herself as an honorary aunt to Hermione and Draco. Monica had been delighted to assist with the wedding planning, taking endless phone calls from Hermione and Draco while they were still in London, assisting with the arrangements in Australia. Narcissa was the only one of the Australian contingent who knew of and attended their magical ceremony in September, so Narcissa happily included Monica as much as possible in the Muggle ceremony. It helped the three women bond and it honestly warmed Draco's heart more than he could say that his mother was so gracious to both Hermione and the woman who was unknowingly her mother.
The ceremony concluded with a kiss and Draco was perhaps too enthusiastic with it, but he couldn't help himself — his wife was so gorgeous. Hermione was blushing as she took his hand and they raised their joined hands overhead to cheers and shouts of joy from the small group of assembled guests.
After the ceremony, they took pictures. Narcissa beckoned Monica to come over and join them for some of the photographs. "I insist, dear. You are family." Draco smiled in invitation and Hermione was frantically blinking back tears, while nodding and smiling in encouragement.
"This is a Granger-Wilkins-Mallory family event and that includes both of the Doctors Wilkins, so come and get in position Monica," Draco said authoritatively.
"Please, Monica. I would love to have you with us in the photos." Hermione said shakily. "Sorry, it's my wedding day and I'm very emotional. Also, I am the bride and I do insist."
Draco suggested that he go on one side of Hermione and Wendell on the other, for symmetry. And then it only made sense for Narcissa to be next to him, as his mother — leaving Monica on the other side of Wendell. She nodded and assumed her spot beside her ex-husband, smiling. Now Hermione would have a picture of her parents together and with her on their wedding day. Draco knew she would cherish it always.
Theo snapped pictures as well — many pictures, in fact. Unbeknownst to his bride, Theo was using a camera that would allow for magical photographs to be procured from this event too. Draco had never shook his feeling that Muggle photos were too eerily still. Theo had strict instructions to capture as many moments of Hermione interacting with her mum and dad as he was able to get.
After the photographs, there was a catered meal and a dance floor set up in the Wilkins backyard. They danced the night away, with Hermione getting a chance to dance with Wendell, Harry and Theo, when she wasn't in the arms of her husband. It was a perfect evening. It was a perfect trip. The fact they had taken a portkey to get here instead of a blasted aeroplane helped. The circumstances that brought him to this moment were extraordinarily strange, but Draco felt a happiness more profound than he would have believed to be possible, when he kissed Hermione on the dance floor, surrounded by their improbable family.
If only his father could see them now.
With Hermione by his side, Draco felt like he could be happy regardless of the future held. It seemed all he — or his mother for that matter — needed in their lives was their very own Granger.
The End
(Thanks for reading!)