* ~ The Eighth Year Universe ~ *

Love Wins

Now Everything Has Changed

The chapter title is from the song:

Call on Me – Angels Fall.


Dinner in Blacknot Castle was always a noisy affair in the school holidays. If he was honest, even though Draco grumbled that he'd had a long day and just wanted to eat in peace, he wouldn't change it.

These last two weeks, having dinner alone in the coach house with the silence he'd always desired, he had found that he actually missed the chaos.

And chaos was indeed the only word to describe what he and Hermione walked into that evening.

"Charlus, it's not fucking funny!" Almina was fuming, "Give it back now!"

Charlus was standing on the table with a journal in his hand, "This? No chance, Mimi! I'm going to get this published so everyone can hear about your beloved 'teddy bear'."

Ada and Dora were sniggering, Ella looked exasperated, and Cas was grinning – he had always loved the chaos.

Almina cursed Charlus, knocking him backwards off the table.

"Almina!" Sadie chastised.

Theo shrugged and helped Charlus up, "I thought it was well-deserved, actually."

Almina ignored them and grabbed the journal from her brother, "You're an arsehole!"

Charlus snorted, "You're a bitch!"

"I'm staying with the Potters tonight!" Almina huffed, throwing a hex at Charlus and stalking out of the back door.

"Bet you feel bad for being such a great big bag of dicks now, huh Charlie."

"Ada!" Sadie exclaimed.

Theo snorted and glanced over at his oldest son, "Your timing was dreadful, Charlie. You must know your sister's upset about the mission to Hungary."

Sadie looked at him with a frown, "What mission to Hungary?"

"The mission to Hungary that you have no idea about," Draco said. He stepped into the room and raised an eyebrow at Theo.

"Because you most definitely aren't effectively married to the Head of the DMLE, and he definitely doesn't tell you ministry secrets."

Hermione scoffed and stepped into the room after him, "And I'm the Queen of Sheba."

Sadie chuckled, and Theo grinned, "You two made up then?"

"Yes, I realised that as our daughter just said so concisely – I was being a great big bag of dicks," Draco said, barely containing a grin.

"Draco!" Sadie chastised.

"Oh, give over, love," Theo chortled, "You've got the worst mouth of any of us."

"I don't curse in front of the children, though," Sadie said pointedly.

"No, just in other rooms of this house," Theo snorted.

"Ugh," Charlus muttered, "Can you not talk about that in the kitchen? I think I'm gonna vomit all over my lasagne."

Ada rolled her eyes and threw a chip at Charlus, "People have sex. Deal with it."

"Hey, you know nothing about sex. You're only 13!" Theo said, narrowing his eyes at her.

"So?" Ada asked with a raised eyebrow, "I can know about sex without actually wanting to have it."

"Not that you do," Dora said in a sing-song voice, "Not with guys, anyway."

"Dora!" Ada objected.

Cas snorted, "Has anyone in this family not noticed your crush on Laurie Longbottom?"

"Oh, give your sister a break," Hermione said with a wave of her hand, "She's 13. People have crushes on all sorts of people at that age; it doesn't define your sexuality. Not until you're much older."

Sadie raised an eyebrow, "Who did you have a crush on when you were 13?"

"Yeah, who did you have a crush on when you were 13? Because I thought it was me," Draco said, eyeing her curiously.

"You?" Theo laughed, "Mate, she punched you in the face when we were 13! If that was your guideline to figure out if someone was into you, I think I know why your relationship history is so appalling!"

"Says the guy who worked his way through half our year group before he realised the love of his life was right in front of him?" Draco quipped.

Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down at the table, "Boys – can we eat before we argue, please?"

The two men sat down at the table, and Charlus stabbed his lasagne violently.

"So, who did you have a crush on when you were 13, Mum?"

"Yeah, you're not getting away with that so easily," Theo agreed. He leant forward and grinned, "It was me, right?"

"You?" Hermione quipped, raising an eyebrow, "You realise your nickname was 'Ratly' back then, don't you? This was before you came back to school in sixth year looking like a male model."

Theo grinned and leant back, "There was still a compliment in there, so I'm happy."

Sadie shook her head in amusement, "It doesn't take much to please you, to be fair, Theo."

Draco was looking a little worried now, "Seriously, who did you have a crush on when we were 13?"

Hermione moved her fork around her plate awkwardly, "Ugh, if she ever finds out, she will be unbearable. But let's just put it this way, I may have a type, and that type tends to be blonde, and in Slytherin."

"Wait a minute," Theo said, holding up a hand, "Was it, Sadie?"

Sadie scoffed, "No, it was Daphne, you dimwit."

"Daphne?!" Draco echoed.

"So, let me get this straight…." Theo mused, "You had a crush on Daphne before you had a crush on Draco. Daphne then dated Draco, and now you're married to him…?"

"I had a crush on Draco first," Hermione said, smirking over at her husband, "Halfway through our first year, before you ask – for all my sins."

Draco smirked in response and leaned back in his chair.

"Then you realised he was a dick in second year and gave up on boys for a while," Sadie chuckled.

"Which makes perfect sense, considering how pompous Mr 'I'll let everyone think I'm the heir of Slytherin' Malfoy was that year."

Draco raised his hands in defeat, "What is this, rip Draco into shreds day?"

"Well, you have been a dick for the last two weeks," Theo said, grinning shamelessly at his best friend.

"You have been," Ada said with a nod, "No offence, Dad."

"Offence taken," Draco said dryly.

"Have you really made up, though?" Dora asked, looking between them, "All four of you?"

Draco smiled across the table at Hermione, "Yes, we have."

"How?" Ella asked with a frown, "Because yesterday you still seemed to hate each other and now today…this?"

Charlus poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice, "I'm pretty sure you don't want them to answer that question."

"I had to get myself a drink last night, so I know you don't want them to answer that question," Cas muttered.

Ella made a face, "Really, guys? Are silencing charms that difficult to master?"

Theo burst out laughing, and even Sadie had to bite back a grin, "You're getting schooled by your kids. This is great."

Hermione smiled slightly, "Well, I will take that over being ignored by my kids."

Charlus looked the most sheepish, "Sorry, Mum. We were sort of all mad at you for ruining Dad's career."

"And by all, he means him and Almina," Ella said dryly, "Since those two are the ones who got drunk and bitched about it in the Garden Cottage."

"Wow, green isn't a good look on you, Elladora, you little grass," Charlus said.

Ella smirked at him, "Not everyone ignored you, Mum."

"I know, sweetheart," Hermione said.

"And Cas never talks to us anyway, so it would have been hard to tell the difference," Draco said, shooting his son an amused look.

Caspian just rolled his eyes in response.

Ada smiled and said, "For what it's worth, I'm glad you made up."

"Yeah, me too," Dora agreed, "We thought we were gonna have to spend the week with our mums and the weekends with our dads."

"Hey, why do dads get the weekends?" Theo objected, throwing up his hands and looking offended, "That's sexist!"

"And entirely unfair," Draco agreed, "We were around more than your mums when you were kids."

"That's actually a fair point," Ada said thoughtfully, "Okay, so mums would have got the weekends."

Sadie and Hermione shared an amused look, and Sadie shook her head, "You carry them for 9 months, go through horrendous labour-"

"- and near death," Hermione added.

"To bring them into this world," Sadie carried on, "Only for them to prefer their dads."

Theo grinned and leant back in his chair, "What can I say, ladies? We're just fantastic."

"With fantastically huge egos to match," Hermione said, looking at Sadie in amusement.

Sadie chuckled and raised a glass of pumpkin juice, "To new starts."

Everyone raised their glasses, and then Ada caused pandemonium to break out again.

"To Dad not being a dick anymore."

"Ada!"


One Week Later…

Hermione felt lighter than she had in a long time. There were still issues to resolve, and she and Draco were seeing a mental health healer together. Draco had confessed that maybe he hadn't resolved his 'daddy issues' and that now was as good a time as any to do so.

This was a fresh start for all of them. But things weren't perfect, and they all knew that nothing could just go back to the way it had been before. Trust would have to be rebuilt, but with a solid foundation like the one the four of them had, they were confident that they could get there.

The biggest issue was the threat of the prophecy that hung over their heads constantly, like a dark cloud. But Hermione tried her best to put it out of her mind and focus on the task at hand – dealing with the Statute Saboteurs. With her family back together and Draco now having the respect he deserved in his role at work, that was looking like a more manageable fight too.

Hermione stepped into the kitchen early that morning. She wrapped her arms around Theo from behind, kissing him on the cheek and murmuring.

"Morning, Theo."

"Morning, Princess," Theo said, without looking up from his paper.

Boots clicked in the hall, then someone else joined them in the kitchen.

"Morning Mum," Almina said airily, "Morning, Pops."

Hermione looked up at Almina and smiled, "You okay, sweetheart?"

Almina looked tired, but she nodded, "Yeah, I'm just worried about Teddy," she admitted.

"I know," Theo said. He leant back against Hermione and looked up at her, "Since I'm such a lovely person who-"

"Yes, I'll get you a coffee," She said with a chuckle.

Theo grinned, "Thanks, Princess."

Hermione crossed the room and put the kettle on the stove, "He'll be okay if he does get chosen for that mission. He might have inherited his father's knack of landing himself in sticky situations, but he's also mastered his ability to land on his feet when he falls."

Almina grabbed her water bottle and nodded, "I know. I might stay at Nick's place with them tonight. I'll send you a Patronus and let you know."

Hermione nodded, "Have a good day," she called as Almina swept out in a hurry.

The kitchen fell silent as Hermione busied herself with the coffee. When she put a mug in front of Theo, she hugged him from behind again.

Theo smiled, "You have been very affectionate lately."

Hermione stayed where she was, and he moved his head slightly to look her in the eye.

"It occurred to me that I said some pretty awful things the other night," Hermione admitted, "And that wasn't fair to you or Sadie. My life would be worth living if Draco wasn't in it because I would still have you."

"Hm," Theo said, smiling slightly and closing the distance to kiss her lightly.

"We fall out for two weeks, and this is what happens?"

Hermione chuckled and looked to the doorway, where Draco had just appeared, "Here he goes again, making it all about him."

Theo grinned at his best friend, "I liked her first, for the record."

"No, you didn't," Draco said, pouring himself a cup of coffee, "I only admitted that I liked her in fourth year, but really it was more like…five minutes after I met her."

"Draco Black, that might be the sappiest thing you have ever said," Hermione said, grinning at him and crossing the room to wrap her arms around him.

Theo tutted and looked back down at his paper, "I feel so used right now."

Draco chuckled and kissed Hermione softly, "Morning, love."

"Morning," Hermione said, smiling easily at him.

"Merlin, you're still at it?" Sadie asked as she stepped into the room, "It's like the honeymoon period all over again."

"You weren't here two minutes ago when those two were at it," Draco said, nudging his head in Theo's direction.

"Call it payback for the snog you two had in that secret passageway not so long ago," Theo said, bringing his coffee up to his lips.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "You two?"

"There was a reason behind it," Sadie said with a roll of her eyes, "I had to get a message to Draco somehow, and I knew that was the only way he would believe it."

"Ah," Hermione said with a nod, "So it was to confirm his hunch that you were the Head of the Department of Mysteries, then?"

"Hermione!" Sadie exclaimed, "You can't just say that."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at her, "Yes, I can? I'm the Minister for Magic, and I didn't take any Unbreakable Vows."

Sadie looked at Draco in disbelief, "Why didn't we think to ask Hermione?"

"Because you're drama queens?" Theo suggested.

"Who are we talking about? Dad?" Charlus asked, stepping into the kitchen with Angel in tow.

"Maybe that's where you inherited it," Angel said, shooting her best friend a grin.

Draco scoffed and sat down across from Theo, "Anything interesting in the paper?" he asked.

"Plenty of gossip," Theo replied as the rest of the family began to filter in for breakfast.

"No mentions of the Vengeful Augerey today then?" Hermione asked.

"Nope," Theo said, turning the page, "The front-page news was far less political and much more dramatic this morning."

Hermione moved away from him and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Yes, apparently Daphne Potter is having an affair," Theo added.

"Who with this time?" Draco asked, buttering some toast, "Haven't they run out of people for her to shag?"

"Oh, they're back to their old tricks," Theo said with a wave of his hand. "It's all speculation that Harry resigned because his heart was broken when he discovered that his wife was sleeping with his best friend."

Charlus snorted, "They never report on the real stuff though, do they? I mean, everyone knows she's sleeping with Aunt Lilly."

"Charlus!" Sadie exclaimed.

"He's right," Theo said, "You can't tell the kid off for stating the bloody obvious."

Sadie gave him an exasperated look, "They are very close friends who holiday together. There's no need to speculate."

"It's not speculation if it's true," Draco said dryly.

"Draco!" Sadie exclaimed, "You're as bad as the kids!"

Hermione snorted from where she was leaning against the kitchen counter.

"To be fair, I think Lilly gave the game away when she kissed Daphne a couple of years ago at the Halloween party."

"I don't blame her," Charlus muttered under his breath, "I mean, that muggle looked pretty good as Black Widow in the films, but if they'd seen her, they'd totally have cast her."

"Ew, Charlus," Ella said with a frown, "She's our Aunt?"

"She's not really though, is she?" Charlus said with a shrug.

"Yes, she is," Draco said dryly, "She's my step-sister, and therefore your aunt."

"And I'm pretty sure Black Widow never made out with Scarlet Witch in those movies," Hermione mused from where she was making her breakfast.

"Now I would pay to see that," Charlus said with a grin.

"You're disgusting," Ella said matter of factly.

The Wonder Twins nodded their agreement, and Cas looked thoughtful.

"You got an opinion Cas?"

Cas looked up, "On whether Aunt Daphne is hot or not? I mean, she's our Aunt, and she's old so…no, but Thea is like her, but young and…kinda pretty."

"And she's your cousin," Ella pointed out.

"So?" Cas shrugged, "Mum and Pops are cousins, and they're basically married."

"Also, you're not related to Thea Potter by blood," Draco added, "Well, you are, distantly. But she's only your cousin through marriage."

"You still call her mum Aunt Daphne though," Ella muttered under her breath.

"What is with Malfoy's having crushes on Potters?" Theo mused.

"Shut up, Theo," Draco retorted dryly.

Charlus blanched, "What? You had a thing for Uncle Harry?"

"No," Draco said firmly, "I did not. Uncle Harry was the one who stalked me for an entire year."

"That is a fair point," Hermione agreed, shoving a slice of toast into her mouth.

And at that point, a Patronus bounded into the room. It was a swan, so they knew who had cast it instantly before the familiar voice filled the kitchen.

"I know it's your day off, Charlie, but we've got another suspected Statute Saboteur curse, and we need all hands on deck. If you can, come into the office ASAP."

Charlus got to his feet and shot his mum a look, "Guess I gotta go."

"Just be safe," Hermione said, her eyes flashing with concern as she watched him go.

Draco opened his mouth to say that he better go in too. Then another Patronus bounded through the window – an adder snake.

"Morning, boss. Just got word that the Statute Saboteurs have struck again. It's close to home again, happened in the ministry in the early hours. I've got my best guys on it, but you're going to have to get your head together with the Minister and put a statement out ASAP. People are going to panic."

Draco could tell it was an open channel, so he replied, "I know, Ben. I'll get on it, and thanks for being so quick on the uptake."

The Patronus disintegrated, and Theo looked pointedly at Draco and Hermione, "You two can handle writing a press statement together, right?"

Sadie chuckled because she knew where Theo was going with this.

"I mean, you're not gonna jump each other's bones in the Ministerial office?"

Ella made a face, and Cas gagged.

"Ugh, so gross," Ada and Dora echoed.

Draco shot Theo a long-suffering look, then a rabbit bounded into the room, and Cas rolled his eyes, "Another one?"

The rabbit came to a stop in front of Hermione and spoke with the voice of her undersecretary.

"Minister. There has been another attack by the Statute Saboteurs. I urge you to get a statement out as soon as possible and perhaps call another emergency meeting of the Ministry Council."

"I swear, these people don't realise you two are married," Ella muttered under her breath.

"You would think it was obvious," Ada snorted, "You're lovey-dovey enough."

"Not at work, they aren't," Sadie said, smiling slightly, "They are nothing but professional from the minute they set foot in the Ministry."

"Because gossip spreads easily and quickly," Hermione added, "Which is why I didn't make out with your dad in broom cupboards. Unlike someone else in this family."

Theo threw his hands up, "We never made out in broom cupboards! They just happened to be good places for private conversations, and the rest of the department thought we were making out in them."

Cas rolled his eyes, "You guys are impossible," he muttered as he got to his feet.

Draco raised an eyebrow, "What are you doing today?"

"Nothing," Cas said grumpily before disappearing out of the kitchen.

"Is it just me, or is he in a worse mood than usual?" Draco asked the others as he got up and shoved his feet into his shoes.

"He's definitely in a worse mood," Ella said offhandedly.

"It's because Thea Potter has a boyfriend," Ada said.

"Uh-huh, he's obsessed with Thea Potter," Dora added.

Theo frowned, "There's something disturbing about that sentence."

"That he's in love with a Potter, or that he's in love with one of your namesakes?" Draco asked dryly.

"Both, I think," Theo said. He made a face.

"And since when did Thea have a boyfriend?" Hermione asked from the doorway, where she was pulling on her cloak.

"Since she made out with her sister's ex-boyfriend," Ada, ever the gossip, said.

Dora nodded and yawned, "Yeah, she's dating Eddie now. Andie's cool with it, apparently. Thea thinks it's because she's a closet lesbian."

Ella rolled her eyes, "I shared a dorm with Andie for seven years. If she was a lesbian, I think I would know about it."

"Unless she doesn't know about it herself yet," Dora said with a grin.

"Yeah, it took Dad long enough to realise he was gay for Pops," Cas agreed.

"Caspian!" Hermione exclaimed.

"He's not wrong," Theo said with a chuckle.

"Just too outspoken for his own good," Draco said, giving his son a long-suffering look.

Hermione shook her head in amusement and opened her mouth to say goodbye when yet another Patronus bounded into the room.

"Seriously?" The Wonder Twins asked in unison.

This one was a fox, and it landed in front of Sadie at the table. She knew it was from Briar Gibbon, one of the Unspeakables she had trained and was quite close with before she even heard the voice.

"I know you're on sabbatical, and you think we all hate you. We don't, by the way. Angel Strang just took it upon herself to be righteous. Who the fuck knows why, Sade, that little brat was in Slytherin."

Angel snorted and leaned back in her chair, "Rude."

Sadie ignored this comment and listened to the rest of the message.

"Look, anyway, there's been another attack, and Regina is on leave. I don't know where she is, but she didn't answer my Patronus, so she's not in the country. She left me in charge, and you know that means I'm going to be under pressure from the Minister, who I'm not scared of, and the head of the DMLE, who I'm a little scared of."

Sadie shook her head in amusement as the message continued.

"Since you're basically married to them both, I need you to have my back down here when one of them, because it's probably going to be him, comes in here busting my ass about that assignment. We've gotten nowhere with it because you're not here. Oh god, Sadie, help. Please come back."

Sadie looked up at Draco, who was smirking, "I'm more intimidating than you, Hermione."

"I don't think you should be saying that like it's a good thing," Hermione said, giving him a pointed look.

"I have to go in before Briar has a panic attack," Sadie said as she got to her feet.

Ella rolled her eyes and threw her spoon down, "Well, Pops, looks like you're taking me to get registered for international floo travel."

Theo chuckled and put an arm around her, "Sure thing, love. We'll get waffles in Diagon Alley afterwards?"

"Ooh, waffles!" Ada said eagerly, "Can we come?"

"Yeah, can we, Pops?" Dora chimed in.

"Do you mind a couple of stragglers, Ells?" Theo asked.

Ella smiled slightly and shook her head, "No, it will be kind of nice, actually."

"Alright then," Theo said, clapping his hands together, "You guys, go and save the world. We will have a girls' day out. Do you wanna get our nails done too?"

Ella shook her head and fought an amused smile while the Wonder Twins giggled.

Hermione smiled fondly at him, "Thanks, Theo," she said, taking Draco's hand as they disappeared into the entrance hall.

Sadie kissed Theo lightly, "Thanks, baby. I'll see you when I see you."

Theo nodded and waved them off. The trio left, and suddenly the kitchen felt relatively empty.

"Hey, Pops," Ella said, getting to her feet.

Theo looked over at her, "Yeah?"

She smiled and kissed him on the cheek, "Thanks for being the one that always stays."

Theo smiled brightly at that, "Always, baby."

- TBC -