Draco,

I imagine receiving my letter came as quite a shock. I'm sure it's been hard since I've died. Goodness, that is weird to say. I'm still trying to figure things out myself. It's been several weeks since I wrote my first letter. However, I have spelled these letters to come to you each week. I want my children to grow up knowing me. How are they doing? How are you doing? Scratch that...you can't answer me anyway. I'm going to assume that everyone is as well as they can be. I don't have much to say as I still don't know what is going on. I decided to treat my letters, for now, as a sort of, diary.

When we met at Amanuensis Quills, I couldn't really wrap my head around what had happened. I mean, we haven't seen each other for several years! I still can't help but think that Professor Trelawney is wrong. These letters might come as a shock to you in the case that we actually don't get married. If that is the case, consider this justice for how you treated us at Hogwarts. I hope you understand that I do not like to leave things to chance.

I received a letter from you yesterday. You asked me to tea. You, Malfoy, asked me to tea! It was ridiculous. I considered not returning your letter, but I figured this was part of you trying to make up for our time in Hogwarts. You do have lots of making up for, believe me.

I decided to take you up on your offer and I can't believe we spent that long talking! I can't believe you're studying Alchemy. I know that you and I were the smartest kids in school, I mean we were Head Boy and Head Girl, but I didn't even know you were interested in Alchemy. It makes my job at the Ministry seem all that much less intense. What I would give to be in your shoes. I hope you stick with it, you were a smart student, and always gave me a run for my money. I'm extremely excited to go to Egypt to visit your lab. It'll be interesting to see what you're working on.

I'd like to reiterate that I hope these letters help, whatever the situation may be. I'm not sure when I'll write again, but you'll be getting my next letter in a week.

Please give the girls a kiss from me,

Hermione

I finished Hermione's letter, and tucked it into her nightstand with the first letter. I still haven't gone through her things. I haven't wanted to. I sat on the bed and pondered Hermione's words. I remembered that meeting very well.

I had been sitting waiting for Hermione in Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. I hated this shop all during my time at Hogwarts. It was so pink and frilly. It reminded me of the inside of Umbridge's Office. An office that I unfortunately had the displeasure of spending a lot of time in our 5th year. However, Hermione recommended the place, possibly because it was the only Tea shop she knew. I saw Hermione walk in. Little did Hermione know at the time, I had already started developing feelings for her back in our 7th year of Hogwarts. But, we still kinda hated each other at the time, and she had just been dumped by that Weasley buffoon.

Hermione had noticed me in the darkest corner of the shop and made her way over to me. I remember being very nervous. I had wiped my hands on my pants several times during the evening.

"Malfoy," Hermione stated while taking her seat, "How are you doing?"

I stumbled for a reply, "I'm good, and you?"

"I'm good too. Is the rest of our outing going to be this awkward with just pleasantries?" Hermione laughed awkwardly.

I cleared my throat. "Granger, once again I wanted to apologize and make things right. I know that we've had our-" I cleared my throat again and continued, "-differences, but I would like to be friends." I had hoped that she would understand everything I was trying to convey in so few words. I've always felt regret and shame for what had happened between all of us. Especially Hermione and I. Even at 11 years old, I was a terrible little boy. Not to even mention the rest of our childhood.

Hermione lowered the menu and said, "I'd like that, Malfoy," as a waitress arrived at our table. I was surprised she took things so gracefully. I had expected her to take her leave and never speak to me again. The waitress took our orders and left.

"What have you been up to since you left Hogwarts?" Hermione had asked me.

I told her about moving to Egypt a month after leaving Hogwarts to study Alchemy. I was almost complete with my secondary degree. She was excited to learn about my studies and had even told me how she wished she had learned more about Alchemy. We talked about the good times we had in our 7th year, and about Hogwarts in general. We had sat there talking for hours. Hermione eventually asked if she could come visit the lab next week. I agreed, and said I would let her know. The waitress eventually kicked us out and we had said our goodbyes. That meeting was the first step to our relationship.

My train of thought vanished as I heard one of the girls cry from the Nursery. I was thankful I was able to take them home today. My mother had moved into the Manor again, so she could help me with the twins. I miss Hermione and wish for anything that she was here to help me, but I'm glad I still have my mother.

I walked into the Nursery, and my mother was in there changing Vera's diaper. I grabbed Ivy and did the same. "Are you sure you're okay if I return to work today?" I asked my mother.

"Yes, yes of course Draco. I'm glad to be able to spend some time with Ivy and Vera. Don't you even worry about a thing." My mother smiled at Vera, picking her up and twirling about the room with her. It was a good feeling seeing my mother smile. I just wished I could do the same someday.

"Konry!" I called, and the house elf approached. "Could you please fetch us two bottles of breast-milk?" He nodded and left the room. We had a wet nurse from the hospital that had graciously donated some breast milk, so that we only had to warm it up to feed them.

I sat down on one of the rocking chairs in the Nursery and dressed Ivy. The twins had this thing of always looking into space, even where there was nothing. I always wondered if maybe they saw Hermione. I wanted to make sure, just as Hermione wished that they would always remember her. I decided after work today I would gather as many photos of Hermione as I could and make a book full of Hermione for the girls. I decided I would call Ginny and ask if she can bring a bunch of photos over as well.

My mother and I played with the twins for a bit before I needed to leave. I set a blanket on the ground and placed Ivy there in front of my mother's feet. I kissed her on the cheek and went to go get ready. I called Ginny using the muggle cell phone, and she said she would bring the pictures over later that day with Harry.

I arrived at work for the second time after Hermione's death. I knew Albert would still be here, taking care of things. I walked into my office and he wasn't there. I shrugged and made my way into the lab. I grabbed all the ingredients, including the ones Albert had sent over from the other lab, and got to work. I made notes after each step I took. The color of the liquid, smell, and texture. I was curious and went to the stockroom and grabbed a bezoar. I wasn't sure it would work, but it already does help poisons, maybe it will help other illnesses?

Immediately when I put the crushed remains of the bezoar in the cream-white liquid, everything started boiling out of control. Another failed attempt. I raised my wand to clean up the mess and took my notes into my office. I would try again with other ingredients later.

This time, Albert was in my office. He looked surprised when I walked in. I guess he hadn't noticed me working in the lab. He said hello to me and stood up from my chair and went to make his leave, when I stopped him. "Albert, would you mind staying for a few more days? I would really like to have your help with the work I'm doing here. I just tried a bezoar, and it didn't help the results."

"Oh, a bezoar wouldn't work Draco, you know that." Albert said puzzled, "what if we used some Ashwinder Egg? It helps with ague."

Albert and I sat discussing additional ingredients we could add to our project. We left my office and started working on different things together. Working helped distract me from Hermione, and having Albert for company helped a lot.

"I think this is such a great idea Draco!" Ginny said, and she dumped nearly a thousand moving photos onto the table. I picked one up, it was Hermione and Ginny talking to each other in front of a beach. The waves caressed Hermione's feet as they talked and smiled into the camera. The next one was of Hermione and I on our wedding day. Hermione wasn't looking at the camera in this one, she was looking at me as we laughed and walked towards the camera. The next one was from when Hermione was still at Hogwarts. She was with Ron and Harry.

I browsed through many more photos, stopping on one where Hermione was six months pregnant. It was at our gender reveal. There were pink and blue balloons moving across the photo. I kept staring at Hermione. This was probably one of the last pictures that was ever taken of her.

My mother, Ginny, Harry and I went through all of the photos, and placed many of them in a scrapbook. We sorted it so all of the photos from our Hogwarts years were first, and then kept them in about as well of a chronological order as we could. "Draco," Ginny said, "I'm so sorry about last night. Ron was way out of line. I don't know what came over him."

"Yeah Mate," Harry joined in, "I gave him a severe talking to last night when we all left. I think Hermione's death just hit everyone a little too hard, you know? We're really sorry about his behavior."

I hadn't really thought much about the Weasle-Ron today. It really irritated me what he did. I thanked Ginny and Harry for their words, and just left it at that. I didn't want to bring up anything that would cause everyone to be in a rift. However, back in our school days, I might have. But I've changed. Hermione changed me for the better.

"Would you two like to stay for dinner?" My mother asked as her and Ginny played with the twins. They agreed and I asked Konry to set up an additional two plates for them. Right before dinner was set up, Ginny received a call from Luna.

"Luna, calm down. What's going on?" Ginny said after she answered the phone. I could only assume that Luna was hysterical. I could only hear cries and rushed words on the other end of the line. We all looked at Ginny worried.

"You left Ron?" Ginny said, and Luna must have confirmed. "Do you need a place to stay? We're over at the Malfoy Manor right now, but we can head home right now and you can stay with us." Harry nodded at Ginny. He looked pretty angry about Ron though.

"Okay, okay Luna, we're on our way. Meet us there." Ginny hung up the phone and turned to my mother and I. "We'll come get the photos you don't end up using another time. Thank you for the offer of dinner, but we best get going. I cannot believe Ronald!" Ginny grabbed Harry and rushed out the door.