Chapter 15:
June 2004
(the past)
Pansy stared at the unconscious bodies of her best friends while Theo and Blaise were waving their wands at the time-turner. Daphne was sitting at Hermione's vanity, holding a book she snagged from the Nott family library.
"Thirteen fucking years!" Blaise cursed, breaking the silence.
Theo looked at them sorrowfully. "Thirteen turns on the big circle," he confirmed. "That's 1991."
"They're first-years?!" she shrieked, feeling outraged. "I'm gonna murder Potter."
"We have to know what's going on in their minds. We have to know if they've found each other!" Daphne stood up and approached her husband, handing him the book. "Theo, do it. Legilimency."
Theo looked at it like it was the most offensive thing in the world. He shook his head.
"I'm not adept at Legilimency with unconscious people."
"We have to know what's happening to them… or what kind of memories they have," Daphne repeated, more insistent this time.
"They won't wake up before thirteen days, right?" Blaise said sadly. "We have to be prepared and maybe… put our old memories away."
"Thirteen days, yes," Theo nodded. "But that's just an estimate. I have to find Draco's and our notes."
"What if when they wake up after thirteen fucking days, they're no longer our family?" Pansy shrieked.
Daphne eyed her as if she had grown a second head. "Pans, how can you say that? We've been friends with Draco even before 1991."
"And what about Hermione?" she said worriedly.
"They are together! Do you think Hermione would forget us?" Daphne said.
"We have to be sure! We don't know what kind of damage Potter had caused them. They might not have memories of us." Pansy stomped. "Oh, I will call someone who can do Legilimency on them!"
"What?!" It was Daphne's turn to shriek. "Pans, you can't!"
"Oh, I can!" she countered. "I can't just wait here and watch them without knowing what's going on in their brilliant minds! I'm calling Narcissa!"
.
March 9, 1992
(one month ago)
Had Severus Snape known where the Come and Go Room was when he was a student, he would've spent most of his time here, studying and doing whatever he could. He would've avoided Potter and his gang. Perhaps, he and Lily had a safe place where they could've spent time together, just like Draco and Miss Granger.
He paced back and forth, three times, thinking about his study in Malfoy Manor. He wasn't ready to reveal his private quarters to anyone, or even his so-called home. His room in the manor was the safest place to show Draco and Miss Granger. When a familiar ornate door appeared, he went inside and checked if the room was safe by casting a few charms. When he was sure he was alone, he sat at his desk and waited for the two first-years.
If he were honest, he didn't want Draco and Miss Granger to know the details of the recent events. The Tonks family took care of everything. Nymphadora was the key. All Severus had to do was to ask favours from Andromeda.
He wouldn't tell Draco in detail about his friendship with Andy. No. Not yet. Maybe when he was older. He deserved to know what a wonderful aunt he had. Andy was a loving woman. Even after she left Hogwarts, she never forgot Severus. They exchanged holiday cards and gifts. When Andy eloped with Ted Tonks, she didn't become a stranger. She worked at St. Mungo's, and one time in 1981, after the Dark Lord vanished and before his trial, Severus got wounded. He was taken by the Aurors to the hospital. Andy wasn't assigned to his floor, but she visited him. She believed what Dumbledore kept saying; that he was a spy for the Order.
When Ted Tonks got injured at work, and the healers at St. Mungo's couldn't find the right cure for his burns and scars, Andy turned to him for help. Without hesitations, he went to Andy and brewed the potions Ted needed. It took him almost one day, but he did it because he cared for Andy. She was a true friend, just like Hector. From that day on, Ted trusted him even more. Severus knew they could always turn to each other if one needed help.
Therefore, when Severus asked Andy to help him find Remus Lupin because Draco wanted to help him, she didn't hesitate to send Nymphadora on a mission. But of course, Andy didn't know that it was Draco who would brew Wolfsbane and not him. When Andy asked him why he gave in to Draco's wish, he just said it was because Draco was his godson, and he wanted him to be a good person – much better than Lucius. Andy almost cried talking about Draco and said he had Narcissa's heart. She couldn't wait to meet him.
He didn't have the heart to tell her about Draco's knowledge and abilities. She would be worried, that was for sure. Andy already loved Draco even though they hadn't met face to face yet. So, he didn't mention anything about Draco and Miss Granger when he asked for his second favour. Andy looked curious as to why Severus didn't turn to Dumbledore for help but didn't ask about it. She just said she would tell what he told her about unicorns to Ted and Nymphadora, both Ministry workers. Nymphadora told Moody someone tipped her the unicorns at the Forbidden Forest were being killed by an unknown creature. Moody brought the information to DRCMC and the two offices – Auror and Magical Creatures – collaborated on the mission to capture whoever was behind the killings of unicorns. That was how they captured Quirrell.
Severus wasn't there when the Aurors and Fudge came to Dumbledore's office, but he heard it was a shock for everyone when they finally saw what (or who) Quirrell was hiding under his turban: the Dark Lord. After Quirrell's capture and the escape of the bodiless Dark Lord, Dumbledore had a tedious meeting with the Minister for Magic. Clearly, Fudge had no idea what to do and needed Dumbledore's advice.
The following morning (earlier today), they had an emergency staff meeting. Kingsley Shacklebolt was pulled out of the Auror Training Program and would be replacing Quirrell until June. No one was allowed to talk about what really happened to Quirrell and that the Dark Lord made it to Hogwarts because Fudge would be sacked, surely, and parents would complain to the board, thinking Hogwarts was no longer a safe place for their children. The whole staff made an oath. They all vowed to keep it a secret. The Auror Office and Fudge were already planning with Dumbledore to find Voldemort and end him once and for all.
The door finally opened, and two first-years entered the room. Draco and Miss Granger were holding hands. Still wearing their school uniforms, one would never be able to tell what these two knew about their future and what kind of relationship they already had. They didn't have to tell him, but Severus knew they were past beyond the silly school crush. Draco wasn't holding Miss Granger's hand possessively, but with the way he would talk about her when he was brewing in his private lab, Severus knew his godson wasn't planning on leaving Miss Granger and going after other witches.
"Good evening, Professor Snape," Miss Granger greeted politely.
"Good evening, Professor."
He answered them with a curt nod and waved his hand to the visitors' chairs.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet us, Professor." Always the polite one, Miss Granger. She nudged Draco.
"I appreciate your efforts and help, Professor," Draco told him sincerely.
He leaned his back on the chair. "Well, it's thanks to you two, the Dark Lord isn't lurking in the castle anymore. I wouldn't go into details, but it was really your cousin, Draco. Nymphadora did all the action while I merely told her mother what was going on."
Draco and Miss Granger perked up. "Still, thank you, Professor, for helping us."
He nodded once again. He filled them in – about the staff meeting, what happened to Quirrell, and what was going to happen in the coming days.
"The headmaster is going to help the Minister and the Auror Office find out how the Dark Lord managed to survive without a corporeal form for a decade. They wanted to know what kind of dark magic he used, and how to defeat him. And, of course, when it comes to defeating dark wizards, they turn to the one who's perfect for the job: Albus Dumbledore."
Miss Grange frowned, thinking deeply. "I don't think he knows about the Horcruxes yet. I mean, Voldemort's Horcruxes…"
Draco nodded at Miss Granger solemnly. "How many and what they are…"
"I assume we cannot just walk into the headmaster's office and pretend to know what the Dark Lord's Horcruxes are…" he quipped.
Miss Granger and Draco exchanged surprised looks like something clicked on their minds and looked at him.
"The Dark Lord entrusted them to some of his high-ranking Death Eaters for… safekeeping," Draco whispered.
Severus facepalmed. "Oh, dear Salazar, just murder me."
.
April 9, 1992
(four days ago)
Hermione hopped off the train with her luggage and walked directly to the other side of the barrier, where she knew her parents were waiting. She would be spending the Easter break at home, but she already informed her parents that she was invited for two days at Draco's aunt's house. Dr and Mrs Granger were assured and glad to know that Ted Tonks, a muggle-born wizard and Draco's uncle, would be collecting Hermione in a few days. She was scheduled to return to her parents before Easter Sunday.
Her parents were waiting between Platforms 9 and 10. Her father quickly took her luggage after kissing the top of her head. Her mother wrapped her in a hug as if they hadn't seen each other in Christmas hols. Being a kid again sometimes annoyed her and bored her to death but knowing that she could save her parents from the Death Eaters in another way this time consoled her. She didn't have to suffer from depression, hopefully, and beg for their forgiveness. Furthermore, she could bring her parents closer to her world by introducing her friends.
"Honey, tell me about your new female friends," her mother said as soon as they settled inside the car.
"Pansy and Daphne are Draco and Theo's childhood friends, Mum. Daphne's also bright and studious. She's beautiful, and blonde like Draco. They often say they could pass as siblings. Pansy has raven-black hair. She likes history and fashion."
"When can we invite them home for lunch or dinner?" asked her father.
"Maybe in summer, Dad," she replied. "Pansy and Daphne can't leave their houses like Draco and Theo because they're girls. Their mums are very strict. But they really want to learn more about our world." That was true. Pansy and Daphne showed interest in the muggles' way of life, especially Pansy because Cedric Diggory was taking Muggle Studies.
Hermione was in seventh heaven when they reached home. Knowing that Draco had Tenny or Gus look after their modest home made her feel safe. She enjoyed talking to her parents about current events – the royal family, politics, and other events worldwide – while they helped prepare dinner together. After dinner, she sat between her parents again in front of the TV while they watched a sci-fi movie with popcorn and sugar-free drinks. And when she entered her bedroom that night, she wasn't surprised to see Draco waiting for her, sitting on the bed.
He opened his arms to her. She walked to him and let him envelop her in his arms. "This is home," she whispered.
"Home." Even though she couldn't see his face, she knew he was smiling.
.
April 13-14, 1992
(the present)
"Welcome to our humble abode," Ted Tonks grinned at her before walking ahead towards the house.
Earlier this morning, Edward "Ted" Tonks arrived at the Granger residence and introduced himself to them. After pleasantries, Ted helped her with her overnight bag, and Hermione said her goodbyes to her parents, then left with Ted. They Disapparated from the back of the Granger house.
The Tonks' residence was just as Hermione remembered. As an adult, she came here occasionally with Draco to spend time with Teddy and Delphi and catch up with Andromeda. She knew every room of the modest house. She was very familiar with it. There were times they would stay the night in Dora's old bedroom for Andromeda's or Teddy's birthday.
"Happy birthday, Teddy, our little man," she whispered before she followed Ted to the house.
.
April 13, 1999
(Hermione and Draco's past)
Teddy's first birthday was unlike Delphini's. The celebration was held at Andromeda's house, and a few guests were invited like St. Mungo's people, some of Dora's former colleagues in the Auror Office, like Kingsley, and of course, Harry and the Weasleys. And Draco and their entire gang. They set up a tent outside, just like at Bill and Fleur's wedding.
"The female Weasley's glaring at me." Pansy shifted her thighs on Hermione's lap, talking about Ginny. Hermione shared a table with her favourite Slytherins. If the Weasleys were surprised, especially Mr and Mrs Weasley, they didn't show it.
She arrived with Draco and their four friends earlier to help Andromeda prepare for the party. The three Slytherin wizards set up the tent while the three witches – two Slytherins and one Gryffindor – worked on the tables, chairs, and decorations. As promised by Pansy, Teddy's cake was fabulous.
When the guests arrived, they were surprised to see Draco Malfoy there with his Slytherin buddies… and Hermione Granger. When Harry arrived with the Weasleys, he didn't say anything. Harry and the Weasleys mostly spoke with Andromeda, Teddy, and the other guests. They couldn't even look at Delphini anymore. Hermione guessed Andromeda had already introduced her to the wizarding world as the daughter of Bellatrix and Rodulphus Lestrange prior to Teddy's birthday.
Draco, Hermione, Pansy, Daphne, Theo, and Blaise made sure to keep Delphi busy while the other guests made their way to Teddy.
"She's probably wondering why you're sitting like that," Daphne, opposite them, commented in a low voice. Pansy's butt was still on her own seat, but her thighs were on top of Hermione's, making the black-haired pureblood witch more comfortable.
"'Cause, you wouldn't let me. Only Hermione doesn't complain," Pansy reasoned.
"Has she tried reaching out to you after that incident at the Three Broomsticks?" inquired Daphne.
"No," she breathed.
"But she keeps on stealing glances at you," Daphne said.
Pansy snorted and spoke loudly. "I wouldn't call it 'stealing glances'. She was glaring daggers at us."
Hermione slapped Pansy's skirt-covered thigh hard. "Couldn't you be any more discreet?" she whispered.
"Ouch!" she complained and tilted her head in Draco's direction. Draco, Theo, and Blaise were playing a ball with Delphi outside the tent. "Draco, Hermione spanked me! Control your woman!"
Daphne giggled and watched them with amusement while sipping her tea.
"Can't do that, Pans, sorry. She's the boss," smirked Draco, who left the two wizards with Delphi to approach them. He stood behind Hermione and smoothed her hair.
"Lucky witch!" Pansy glared at her.
Hermione looked up at her boyfriend with an affectionate smile.
"I've waited for almost six years, and I'm not ruining it just because you said so," he told Pansy, but Draco's eyes were on Hermione.
She heard sounds of surprise from the people around them, and one was unmistakably Ginny's gasp, but she didn't tear her eyes off Draco. "That's sweet," she beamed.
"I know, moron!" replied Pansy with an eye roll. "That's why I agreed to go to the Yule Ball with you, so you wouldn't be so miserable watching her from afar."
Hermione knew that Pansy said that for Harry, Ron, and Ginny to hear, and she didn't mind. Her focus was on Draco, who planted a kiss on her temple before sitting on her other side.
"I love it when you're wearing white," she complimented her boyfriend. He was dashing in a white button-up shirt and cream slacks. He was also wearing a pair of grey sneakers.
"Ivory," Pansy corrected.
She rolled her eyes good-naturedly, without glancing back at Pansy. "Ivory. Ivory shirts suit you, love."
Draco's smile widened, and leaned forward to kiss the tip of her nose. "No. You're the only thing that suits me."
Their moment was broken when Gus came running towards them with Teddy in his arms. "Master, Master… the young master does it again!" he said with worry in his eyes.
They didn't have to ask what Teddy did. They could smell it. Pansy laughed. "Drakeeeey…"
"Poo-poo," Teddy said, looking at Draco with puppy eyes.
Draco groaned but picked Teddy up from Gus.
Hermione, Pansy, and Daphne laughed. "He loves you so much."
The moment Teddy was in Draco's arms, his eyes turned grey, and his hair platinum blonde. The two Black wizards looked like father and son. "Yeah, right," Draco said affectionately, in reply to Hermione.
When she tore her eyes from Draco, she caught sight of Harry, looking at Draco and Teddy longingly.
Oh, well, Hermione thought. If only he did his job as Teddy's godfather for the past eleven months instead of hating Draco…
.
April 13-14, 1999
(the present)
"Looks like Draco's here," Mr Tonks looked back at her with a grin.
Hermione saw Draco emerging from the front door, still wearing a cloak, billowing behind him as he ran towards her. She also made her way to meet him halfway, and they engulfed each other in a tight embrace.
"Missed you," he whispered, kissing her temple.
She let out a giggle. "Missed you, too." But she didn't whisper. She didn't mind if Mr Tonks heard it.
"Good to see you, Draco," smiled the older wizard.
Draco pulled away from her but continued holding her with his left arm. "It's nice to finally meet you, Uncle Ted."
The Muggle-born wizard beamed and offered Draco a handshake. "Glad to meet you, young man. Your aunt couldn't stop talking about you."
They walked together to the house. Mrs Tonks – Hermione reminded herself Andromeda was Mrs Tonks again because she was just 12 years old, and was already waiting in the living room.
"Aunt Dromeda, this is my Muggle-born best friend, Hermione Granger."
Instead of offering a handshake, Mrs Tonks gave her a motherly embrace, and she liked it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Hermione."
"Thank you, Mrs Tonks," she replied politely and shyly.
"Oh, don't call her Mrs Tonks!"
They turned to the source of the new female voice. There, by the doorway to the living room, was Nymphadora Tonks, smiling mischievously and winking at them. She was wearing her favourite 'Weird Sisters shirt, sporting bubblegum-pink hair, just like when she first met her in the past, in 1995. Her hair was funny – it was too big, and it used to make her and Ginny laughed.
But Hermione's heart was filled with emotions, and she wasn't prepared to meet her today. She was told Dora was at work and wouldn't return until dinnertime. But she was here, and Hermione couldn't help the tears in her eyes. She was a dear friend. Older than her, and they seldom saw each other, but she was a true friend. She wasn't able to control the memories swirling in her mind while their eyes were locked on each other…
Meeting her for the first time at Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
"Good afternoon, Professor Snape," Hermione greeted her professor when they met outside the drawing-room. He was leaving and Hermione was going in to clean.
Professor Snape stared blankly at her, and suddenly, there was a loud crashing sound behind her.
She saw a witch older than her, sporting a 'Weird Sisters' shirt with bubblegum-pink hair and a big nose. "Sorry, Professor. I wasn't looking where I was going."
Hermione giggled when the older witch winked at her. She turned to Professor Snape, wanting to see his reaction.
Professor Snape rolled his eyes. "When have you, Miss Tonks? Why you became an Auror is still a mystery to me." He left them without another word, and the two witches found themselves smiling at each other.
Then, there was the scene she met Tonks at Hogsmeade incidentally, wearing puffy eyes, looking mournful.
"Hey…" she approached her.
Tonks gave her a sad smile. "Hello, little Miss Prefect Granger! Making rounds?"
She nodded. "What're you doing here?"
"Oh, you know… duty calls. Volunteered to be stationed here." She didn't elaborate. "Where are you going?"
"The post office," she replied shortly.
Tonks smiled. "I'll go with you. You don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not!" she said happily.
"So, who's the letter for?" she teased.
Hermione looked at Tonks with a sad smile. "Remus…"
The smile on her face faded. "How is he?"
"He's the reason why you've been crying, isn't he?" she asked sadly instead.
Before Tonks could answer, the memory shifted. It wasn't a good one. In the memory, Hermione was crying silently, seeing the bodies of Tonks and Remus side by side on the floor of the heavily damaged Great Hall. Then, there was Draco with Teddy in his arms. In the memory, Draco was passing Teddy to Hermione. They were walking in the graveyard and stopped in front of two tombstones.
"Say 'hi' to your Mummy and Daddy, little man," Hermione encouraged.
"Oh, fucking Salazar!" Dora exclaimed. "That was my future!"
Hermione broke the eye contact, and she fell to her knees, but Draco was prepared to catch her. He led her to the nearest couch.
"What's going on?" asked Mrs Tonks, sounding confused.
"You're a Seer!" Dora said. "Hermione's a Seer! I saw my future in her eyes!"
"No, she's not a Seer," Mr Tonks told them with firmness in his tone.
Hermione and Draco looked at each other, worry in their eyes, before turning to Mr Tonks.
He sat on the couch opposite them calmly. "There's a reason why I encouraged Dromeda to invite you as well, Miss Granger. But before I tell you that, I need my wife and daughter to perform the Secrecy Vow."
.
June 2004
(the past)
It had been five days since the time-turner accident, and Hermione and Draco fell unconscious. Pansy went to Malfoy Manor five days ago. When Narcissa saw her, the older witch immediately asked if something happened to Draco, to which Pansy confirmed sadly.
Narcissa didn't hesitate to perform Legilimency on Draco and Hermione. She did it perfectly; without any damage to their brilliant minds. They found out that they were, indeed, in 1991, and they have found each other.
Hermione got herself Sorted into Hufflepuff. Draco and Hermione secretly kept their relationship. Narcissa saw that the two of them spent nights with each other at Hermione's childhood home during the Christmas hols of 1991.
"When they wake up, everything might be different," Theo said, breaking Pansy's thoughts. "We have to be prepared and put our old memories somewhere safe, write letters to ourselves, reminding us to get a Pensieve and watch them."
Blaise huffed.
Pansy turned to her half-Italian friend. "Why?" she frowned.
But Blaise didn't say anything.
Theo glared at Blaise and shook his head.
"What? What is it?!" Pansy demanded.
"There's another alternative, and Theo's not telling you and Daph," Blaise drawled.
"Actually," Daphne said, looking embarrassed, "he already told me. But we can't risk it. We have children, Blaise. And you… Maggie is pregnant! Maggie's a Muggle. You can't just leave her for 11 days and wake up with different memories."
"Hang on," Pansy interrupted. "Are you saying that we can follow them to 1991?"
Theo's jaw clenched, but he nodded.
"We can… help them change the future…" Pansy realized.
"Yes, but everything will be different when we wake up," Theo said, sounding and looking exhausted. "We might be confused for a few days. Disoriented. We can't do that to our children and Maggie."
.
April 13-14, 1992
(present time)
After witnessing the Vow of Secrecy, Hermione and Draco were still sitting on the couch, their fingers intertwined. They refused to move and let go of each other. Having each other, holding each other always calmed them, and gave them assurance that they would never be alone, whatever might happen.
Mr Tonks moved to a wingback chair to the left, and Mrs Tonks and Dora took the couch opposite Draco and Hermione.
"Draco, Hermione… I know you are already aware of what I do for a living," Mr Tonks said gently.
Hermione nodded to him. "You're Unspeakable."
"That's correct. Now, the first thing you should know is that we, Unspeakables, are always alerted when there are time-travellers around. There are a couple of ways to know, but the easiest and the only one I can tell you is through the Goblins. Gringotts. If a time-traveller is of legal age when they left their original time, they will remain legal in the eyes of the bank and the Goblins, and Unspeakables."
"It means… I can have access to my vault," Draco said slowly.
Mr Tonks nodded. "Yes. But not legal yet in the eyes of the Ministry. You still cannot use magic outside Hogwarts. The second thing you have to know: The head of the Department of Mysteries does not answer to the Minister for Magic. In the Muggle world, there's the separation of church and the state. In the wizarding world, there's a 'separation of magic and state'. While the minister is called 'Minister for Magic', he's simply the minister. The leader of the state. Time-travellers and Goblins do not answer to them. Goblins answer to the Magic, and so do we, the Unspeakables. Everyone in the Department of Mysteries. Therefore, it is our job to help and protect the time-travellers like you."
"They are time-travellers?" Mrs Tonks asked in disbelief.
"I saw it, Mum! I saw my future in Hermione's eyes!" Dora exclaimed, and then she frowned. "I can't believe it. I died very young! Left my son under Draco's care? Oh, Merlin, Circe, and Agrippa!"
"That's no longer your future, Dora," Draco assured her. "Hermione and I have already changed… almost everything. My time travel is the reason why I reached out to you, Aunt Dromeda. In my original time, we just reconciled after… the war."
"After I died," Dora whispered. "But Hermione? She's a Muggle-born. How did your parents react?"
Draco sighed heavily. "I disowned them for many reasons. Couldn't forgive them for what they did and didn't do for me."
"Lucius," Mrs Tonks muttered. "Lucius had something to do with it, am I right?" she asked.
Draco nodded.
"What war was Dora talking about?" Mrs Tonks asked again.
Draco turned to her, silently asking her to say something, but she nudged him to go on. "The defeat of the Dark Lord. For good. Hermione was one of the war heroes at that time. If it weren't for her and Uncle Severus, I would've been rotting in Azkaban instead of spending time with Teddy."
"Teddy?" asked Mr Tonks.
"My son," Dora said quietly. Then, she turned to him. "What happened to Mum and Dad? Why did you have to raise my son?"
Draco shook his head. "We didn't raise Teddy. Aunt Dromeda did. Hermione and I just visited them a lot and babysat him and another infant."
Mrs Tonks frowned. "Another infant?"
"We have a lot of time to talk about that. Draco will be here for two days," said Mr Tonks.
Draco was supposed to be at Hogwarts, but Professor Snape asked Mr and Mrs Malfoy's permission to take him on an excurs to search for potion ingredients. The truth was, only Professor Snape went on a trip after dropping Draco to the Tonks' residence.
"You trust Severus so much… Is that why you told him about our correspondence?" asked Mrs Tonks.
He nodded. "He thinks Hermione and I are Seers. Only you know that we're time-travellers." Draco turned to his uncle. "We didn't know you'd be alerted. What do we do now?"
"Your secret will remain, and you will be protected by the Department of Mysteries should there be a threat to your life caused by another time-traveller. However, you should show us how you ended up here. Show that you don't intend to cause any harm."
"How are we going to do that?" she asked.
"By coming with me to the DoM office tomorrow," he smiled. "And, one thing… our records say that your name is… Hermione Granger-Malfoy."
"You're married?" Dora shrieked but with excitement this time.
"We're married even here?" Draco grinned.
"Yes," Mr Tonks replied simply.
Draco winked at her and tightened his hold on her hand.
Hermione blushed. Seems like Draco's mine forever, according to the Magic.
.
June 2004
(the past)
"Yes, but everything will be different when we wake up," Theo said, sounding and looking exhausted. "We might be confused for a few days. Disoriented. We can't do that to our children and Maggie."
"I don't have a husband or children," Pansy said. "I can do it!" And then, maybe I can save him…
"No."
They all turned their heads to Narcissa, by the doorway, who clearly heard everything. There was a fire in her eyes as she approached them.
"I am Draco's mother. It's my duty to protect him this time and make sure Lucius leaves him alone. Let me do it. I have accepted Miss Granger a long time ago, and I had never seen my son so happy as the way she made him feel. I will protect and help the two of them. Let me."
Blaise, Daphne, and Theo exchanged uncertain looks. They all knew, and Pansy was even convinced, that Narcissa had accepted Hermione as Draco's partner a long time ago, but it was Draco who couldn't forgive her. Draco couldn't let himself bring Hermione back to the place where she was tortured in different ways.
Draco didn't want Hermione near his mother who could remind them both of the scars they had endured during the war.
Draco blamed his mother for not standing up to Lucius Malfoy; for not giving him the freedom he had always wanted.
And for everything, Narcissa Malfoy was remorseful.
But Pansy didn't want to miss the chance of being with the love of her life. She had been miserable and lonely for the past nine years.
.
April 13-14, 1992
(present time)
After the unexpected meeting in the living room, Hermione and Draco joined the Tonks family for a sumptuous lunch. Mrs Tonks, or Aunt Dromeda, as she insisted, prepared a lot of food for them. Hermione could see in Aunt Dromeda's eyes she adored Draco as much as she adored her daughter, who still refused to be called 'Dora'. Thankfully, they didn't talk about the future (or Hermione and Draco's past) anymore. They focused on the present. Aunt Dromeda asked them about Hogwarts and Hermione's family. Dora told them how she found Remus and how their friendship began, and a few stories about her Auror training.
"Speaking of… shouldn't you be at work?" Draco asked. "Hermione and I were told you wouldn't be home until dinnertime.
"Finished a mission early," Dora grinned. "And I told them I had a family emergency. Can't wait to meet my little cousin."
Aunt Dromeda rolled her eyes. "Nymphadora, take your job seriously. You cannot fake a family emergency just to skip work."
"Nah. It's fine, Mum."
"By the way, thanks for finding Remus," Hermione told the older witch.
"Hang on… Who brews his Wolfsbane Potion?" inquired Dora.
Hermione didn't hesitate to tell them the truth. "Draco." She turned to the love of her life. "He's a great Potioneer."
"That's awesome! Can you teach me, Cousin? I want to learn how to brew it for Remus."
"Sure, if we have time," Draco smiled.
"But the ingredients are also very expensive," Aunt Dromeda said with concern.
Draco shrugged. "It's a small amount for Lucius Malfoy. He knows I like experimenting, and Uncle Sev praises me; says I can be a great Potioneer one day. If it feeds Lucius's ego, money doesn't matter."
"Oh, Remus wouldn't be pleased to know his potion's funded by a Malfoy," Dora giggled.
After lunch, Dora and Mr Tonks went back to work. Hermione and Draco went to the backyard. She sat under the tree and started reading again about Animagus, while Draco went flying using Dora's Comet 260. In the evening, Hermione shared a room with Dora, while Draco took the only guest room that became a nursery in the future.
The following day, they arrived early at the office of the Department of Mysteries with Mr Tonks. Three Unspeakables were in attendance and asked them for the memory of their time travel.
"Inventing an illegal time-turner is against the law, Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger-Malfoy," one of the Unspeakables told them. "Should you be discovered inventing, or even having one in possession illegally, you will be sent to Azkaban. We hope you understand and respect our law."
Hermione and Draco nodded. "We aren't planning on creating another… illegally. We promise you that."
"We'll be watching you, Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger-Malfoy."
After making sure that no other time-traveller appeared after Draco and their time-travel was purely an accident, Mr Tonks dropped them home.
They went to the backyard and lay beside each other on the grass. Draco entwined their fingers and kissed her knuckles. "Voldemort's gone, the Stone was probably destroyed by Flamel himself… and Quirrell's in Azkaban, awaiting to be Kissed. Remus has a better job now with the help of the potion. All is well," he told her affectionately.
She smiled and faced him. "And Harry, Ron, and I didn't have to face the giant chess set. Harry didn't have to face Voldy. All is well. For now."
"What about next year?" she asked after a while. "The diary and the Heir of Slytherin."
"We'll take care of it. We can do anything as long as we're together," he declared and kissed her sweetly.
She smiled. "Together."