Chapter 20

Ginny's POV

I was returning to the bonfire after taking Stirling to the house when a couple of the neighbourhood ladies cornered me. "Ginny, that Lucius; is he single?" Betty asked.

"I believe so," I admitted.

"How did you toss him over for Severus?" Paula inquired.

I glanced over at my husband and my former lover and I smiled. "True love, ladies! And Severus is an amazing lover. Lucius was pretty good too, honestly."

"They seem to be on great terms," Paula said to me.

"They are; they're best friends." I had to admit; in the week since Christmas, things had shifted. The bromance between Severus and Lucius was back. It was good to see my husband having a true friend.

"You can tell us; did you ever have both of them at the same time?" Betty asked.

I laughed. "Only in my dreams, ladies. They're both rather selfish that way and wouldn't share well."

Over the next few years, Lucius, Severus, and I jointly parented Eva. We all became close and our daughter never had to choose between us. Lucius became a regular visitor to our home, and we even stayed at the Manor. That messed up his house elves, though. They were never sure of how to treat me when we would come! Lucius would always flirt with me, then claim the goal was keeping Severus on his toes!

Severus' POV

This is the seventeenth Hogwarts graduation ceremony I have been to, and today, it is the most important one. My daughter will complete her schooling. She has done very well in school. She was Head Girl with top marks across all of her classes! The irony of it all was that those marks had nothing to do with her career path. She had already made some money from her artwork, and next year, she will start teaching courses in art at Hogwarts.

Ginny seemed nervous; we haven't been together at Hogwarts since I broke her heart. She wore a powder blue dress, and I realised I am still hopelessly in love with her. We Apparated to the main gates. Wyatt was going to save us seats. After we popped in, she reached for my hand. The act seemed odd for the first time in a long time. I glanced at her and she smiled.

"They all know we have a relationship, Severus! Wyatt proves that!" she teased.

I took a deep breath. "It just feels odd here."

"Trust me, my old friend; never reject her! It was the biggest error of my life!" Lucius stated as he came up to us.

Ginny dropped my hand and hugged Lucius, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Lucius! Do you ever age?"

"Ginevra, you look lovely as always. Is he being grumpy?" Lucius asked. "Severus," he greeted me.

"Lucius, how are you?" I greeted.

"You would think he was a professor all over again," Ginny explained.

"We should make our way up if we want good seats," Lucius suggested.

"Wyatt is saving seats for all of us," Ginny explained.

"How many Weasleys will be here today?" Lucius wondered.

"Just George and Angelina; their son Fred also graduates today, and Mum and Dad. There's a family party at the Burrow tomorrow, and Mum wants you to come," she warned Lucius. He grimaced at the idea. "One evening won't kill you," she claimed. "Besides, Severus will be able to use your presence as an excuse to avoid Harry. How is Draco?" We were walking up to the lawn where the ceremony was being held.

"Draco is good. I still don't see much of him. Astoria keeps him rather busy," Lucius admitted.

"I never liked her," Ginny declared. "This is so much nicer than Marie's grad last month. It was pouring rain and the kids couldn't go and do pictures at the Legislature."

"How is she?" Lucius asked.

"She's good, and excited. In September, she will start working with the Canadian Ministry of Magic. Her friends think she's going away to college."

I spotted Wyatt. He looked so gangly. Merlin, did I look like that at his age? "I thought you told him not too close to the front," I said to Ginny. "We're right behind the professors!"

"I did, Severus! Perhaps they saved seats for us themselves out of professional courtesy. Maybe he had no choice in the matter," she scolded me gently.

She embraced Wyatt. "You look good, dear."

"Did I look as awkward as him at the same age?" I asked Lucius.

"No, he looks good compared to you," he stated, taking a shot at me. "Lucky for him, he has some Weasley in him!"

After the ceremony, I was stopped by the current Potions professor. He told me how advanced both Eva and Wyatt are, but I swear Longbottom had a better chance of passing my Potions class than this man! While I tried to excuse myself, I saw Eva finally break free of her friends and made her way to Ginny, Wyatt, and Lucius. Ginny hugged her and kissed her. Lucius then hugged her. After a few words, she turned towards me and made a couple of rude gestures about the man I was trying to escape from. When I finally broke free, she came to me, wrapping me in a bear hug. "Daddy!"

"I'm very proud of you," I told her.

"I missed you, Dad," she whispered.

"You're an adult now. How does it feel?" I asked her.

"Exciting and scary at the same time," she confided in me.

"Why do you say that?" I asked. I saw my mother in law cornering Lucius about the event at the Burrow.

"This morning I was just a student, but after getting a piece of parchment, I suddenly know it all and should have it all together! It's crazy!"

"You're smarter than most, and admitting to not knowing it all is huge."

She glanced up at the castle. "In a couple of months, I'm going to be a teacher here. Any advice?"

"All students are dunderheads. Assume that Stirling knows more than all of them put together," I replied.

"Dad, you are the worst! Anything else?"

"Yes. Never turn your back on love, because you might not get the chance again. But students are off limits, unless we're at war." I stated.

She laughed at me. "I'm an adult now! I think you and Mom owe me that trip you have promised every time an issue came up that you didn't want to explain because I wasn't an adult!"

Ginny, Lucius, and Wyatt came over. "Let's head out for dinner," I suggested.

Ginny's POV (two years later)

Lucius, Severus, and I are having a drink together. "Guys, Eva has asked for dinner with all of us tonight. I need to talk to you about what's going on."

"What's going on?" Severus asked.

I looked from Severus to Lucius. "There's a young man she is bringing. She is scared that you two will scare him away."

"And who is this boy?" Lucius asked.

"His name is Lachlan Nott," I informed them.

"Theodore's son?" Severus guessed, sipping his drink.

"No, his third cousin or something. Distant enough that the idea his girlfriend's fathers were both Death Eaters is intimidating." Severus and Lucius both looked at each other as if they had no understanding. "Most girls have one dad, not two; never mind you two with your reputations. It's normal for a guy to be nervous about meeting a girl's dad."

Lucius smugly smirked. "I think the boy having fear of us is a good thing." Severus seemed to agree.

"Really?" I countered. "She's nearly twenty and this is the first boy she's bringing to meet you two! She's worried about what will happen. Twenty years old, and neither one of you think it's odd she has never even introduced you to a male friend? Trust me; there have been other boys, but your daughter was scared to have you meet them. I think this boy might be the man she's thinking of marrying."

"You think it's that serious?" Severus asked.

I shook my head at him. "Dear, look at the restaurant they picked. We aren't meeting them for burgers. She has taken him to my mum's for family brunch. And Lucius, I understand Draco has met him already." This clues in to my favorite Death Eaters as to how important this is to our daughter. "She also wanted both of you here tonight to show she's not picking favorites. Promise me you two will behave!" I hated to admit it, but if the boy was afraid of Severus and Lucius, I understood his fear. These men did a lot in service to a madman. What might they do to a young man who views their daughter as a woman? At the same time, I think it's Eva who is more scared and worried. It was just a vibe I got from her when we talked about tonight.

"What do you know about this young man?" Severus asked.

"He's a healer. He has been a fan of her work, buying it in both the Muggle and wizarding world every chance he could. He contacted her at Hogwarts to ask her class to provide work to decorate the children's ward at St. Mungol's. He then asked her to come in and give the kids at the hospital a few classes, all in order to meet her."

The night went well, and later in the ladies' room, Eva asked me; "What did you do to them?"

"I simply told them what Lachlan seems to mean to you," I assured her.

"Mom," she said, looking a bit scared.

"Yes, dear?"

"Don't tell them, but Lachlan already asked me to marry him." She pulled out a beautiful ring and showed it to me.

I felt the tears burn my eyes, and I suddenly felt bad for cheating Mum on my own wedding. "Oh honey! Congratulations!"

"He should be asking for their blessings now," she speculated.

"Who else knows?"

"Just Marie. I could never tell anyone else before you." We hugged. "We will tell Dad and Father in a couple of days."

"Let's give them a couple more minutes," I suggested. "Have you thought about the wedding itself?"

"I was thinking Malfoy Manor would be lovely. I mean, home in the yard would be nice, but that many magical people in a Muggle area could be a mess!"

"I think Lucius would love to host it at the Manor," I assured her.

"You don't think Dad will be hurt?" she asked me. The concern for Severus is evident on her face.

"Your naturally antisocial dad will be fine with it. Let's get back there before they decide to have fun with Lachlan." I went to open the door.

"Mom, which one do I have 'give me away' with you?" The panic is all over her face.

I smiled at her.

The day of the wedding had arrived, and we were about to head down the aisle. Eva looked stunning in her dress. I did the final adjustment to her veil, then take the arm offered to me. The doors opened and we started down the aisle. He looked so handsome in his formal robes. He walked me to my seat and whispered to me; "Mom, you did a great job!"

"Thanks, Wyatt."

After I took my seat, the less than traditional procession started. The bridesmaid was first, then Marie, the maid of honor, followed by the flower girls. Finally, the doors opened and Eva appeared with Severus on her right and Lucius on her left. They started down the aisle slowly and stopped about two rows from the front and Lachlan. They each gave her a kiss and a hug and she stepped forward on her own.

"Who gives this woman to be wed?" the official asked.

"With the blessing of my family, I give myself to be wed," Eva stated and took hold of Lachlan's hand. Lucius and Severus took their seats, one on each side of me. Severus took my hand and Lucius handed me a handkerchief, for my inevitable tears.

Lucius' POV

Ginevra was dancing with Wyatt, Eva with Draco, and Marie was dancing with one of Ginevra's nephews. There's so many of them, I don't recall which one is which! Severus came and sat next to me, handing me a drink. "She's all grown up now," he observed.

"She is. How long do you think it will be before Molly starts asking about great grandchildren?" I asked him.

"I would expect it before the end of the year. I think Ginny might wait til this time next year before asking."

"You did an amazing job raising Evangelina. Did I ever thank you for that?" I asked.

"Not in so many words, but thank you." He looked over at Ginevra longingly, then back at me. "Promise me something?"

I looked over at him and raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"That you will always look out for and take care of both of my ladies?"

It was rare for Severus to be sentimental, but I understood it tonight. "I will," I promised.