A/N: In case strikethrough still doesn't work. In Harry's letter underlined sentences are words that Harry crossed out.

August 26, 2004

Draco's p.o.v

I look up as two very giggly women stepped out of the fireplace. Both brunettes were holding each other up and by the number of bags they had, I knew the Malfoy fortune had taken a hit – again.

"Please tell me we at least have enough funds for Scorpius' Hogwarts tuition." I plead with my tipsy wife.

Astoria untangled herself from Hermione and shuffled over to me laughing. "Relax darling, we didn't go crazy. If anything we got an amazing deal."

"Oh, Merlin what did you do?"

"Matching family outfits!" Hermione exclaims.

I look at them dumbfounded. "What?"

"It's the cutest thing Draco." Astoria gushes. "We're not just coordinating colors, we're wearing the same clothes. We'll look adorkable."

"That's not a word," I correct automatically. "And we can't wear the same clothes. They don't sell kids clothes in adult sizes."

"They do in the muggle world! Mia told me about them and I just had to get a set tailored for us."

I could imagine us going out in ridiculous outfits. A strangled why followed.

Hermione thanked an elf who brought her a glass of water and waved at me to sit. "Trust me it looks better than whatever you're thinking of. Eva and I do it all the time and it's the cutest thing."

I pull Astoria down into sitting with me. "And when exactly are we supposed to wear this wonderful gift?"

Hermione smirks. "Gifts, plural, and any time you need some good publicity. Starting," here Hermione reached into her pocket and pulls out an invitation, "with joining me and Eva for a picnic in Dartmoor. It's a perfect mix of muggle and magical and our pictures will definitely make the front page, if that's what you want of course!" She adds the last part hurriedly.

I laugh. "I'm a Malfoy Granger, I was raised in the spotlight."

"Good otherwise this would be an awkward silence since I already agreed."

"Astoria!"

"Please as if you would say no. We're both snakes, we'd never miss out on this opportunity."

I start to spluttering. "Maybe not but you could let me know in advance!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Hermione with a soft smile. It really hit me then that I hadn't seen real happiness in her since she stepped back into the British social scene.

She stood up. "Well, I'm leaving. You two are getting disgustingly sweet and I have enough of that with Luna and Neville. I'll see you both on Sunday."

"Bye Hermione."

"Goodbye!" Astoria almost jumped off the couch.

"Astoria please-"

Luna's p.o.v

'Marriage is between two people and their family. Marriage is between two people and their families. Marriage is-'

"Luna dear are you paying attention?"

I give great cousin Margaret a smile. "Sorry, Margaret. I was thinking about..." Neville gives me a look and taps his wand against the vase. "...flowers and which colors would attract Migleburgs. They bring such good luck you know?"

Great cousin Margaret gives me a tight smile and I knew she'd be upset with me once again. She highly disapproves of me and my relationship with Neville. She also disliked Neville till he came into his own so her opinion was invalid.

"That's nice dear but-"

"But seeing as we're marrying each other I should pick together with Neville great cousin. You're so right cousin Margaret after all, it'll be our day after all." Here I gave Neville's cousins a sharp smile of my own.

We were surrounded by family and as always the topic seemed to revolve around our upcoming (but not yet official) nuptials. Being a blood purist was out but getting your nose in someone else's business was not.

The older generation wanted their heir and spare running around sooner rather than later especially with more Families having kids thanks to the post-war baby boom. It wouldn't hurt them either to secure the Longbottom line for another generation to come and thereby secure themselves for another generation.

"Let them be Margaret. These two will come together when magic thinks it's right and if they want to plan their own wedding in their own time, they can do that too." Lady Gusta cut in.

"But great aunt Augusta. It's improper. She's been living in the main house without being married." Another cousin said.

"Maybe but not as improper as sticking your nose in business that doesn't concern you. Besides if they are sleeping together, doesn't that mean that the heir you want is closer every day?"

Multiple aunts and cousins gasp at Hermione's crude words. Neville has already turned back to speaking with the men but there was no mistaking the slight shake in his shoulders.

"How dare you be so crude in front of the matriarch!"

Hermione raises an eyebrow. "I wasn't the first one to talk about what's going on beneath the sheets. I just happened to go the direct route. And a good day to you Lady Augusta."

"Welcome, Hermione. I hope your travels went well."

"They did," Hermione answered as she sat close to the Longbottom Matriarch. Certainly closer than many family members would have. "I met Astoria Greengrass and now I'm wondering how Draco managed to snag such a beautiful wife."

Lady Gusta smiles. "I always did wonder."

"I can answer that for you." Hermione leaned in like she was going to whisper. "She's the one who wears the pants in that relationship."

"Could have told you that one girl. Astoria is just like her Great aunt, a force of nature in a tiny body."

Truly there was nothing better than seeing the shocked and disbelieving faces of the older generations when they meet Hermione Granger in person. Something about Hermione rubbed them the wrong way and I enjoyed seeing their reactions.

"I for one cannot believe you associate with the Malfoys. That entire family is rotten. Mark my words, that son of theirs will be just as rotten as his father and grandfather." Cousin Annie stated, sure that her words would become reality.

"Yes," I reply, "like how Howard is a drunkard just like his father. And his grandfather. And his great grandfather. Somethings just run in the family."

Annie stiffened as we all turned to look at the visibly drunk Howard Longbottom, Neville's 2nd cousin once removed, and Annie's husband.

"And we all know character faults don't matter if your wallet is big enough," Hermione adds as the final nail to that particular coffin.

"Howard might follow in his family's...footsteps but being an excitable drunk is not the same as being a murderer." She tried to defend.

"Purposeful murderer you mean. One gets away with a lot when you can claim being drunk." A different cousin adds.

Even Hermione's eyes widen at that. Merlin no one in this family liked each other, did they?

Things noticeably quiet down on the women's side with that comment laying about.

A heavy and unwashed body slams down next to me. "Bah! Are you womenfolk finally done with your wedding talk?"

"They're women Marty. Babies and wedding 'tis all they can talk about." Another man adds as he stomps to our side.

Grand uncles. Bringing all their 19th-century opinions with them.

Neville stands up and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Actually it's babies, weddings, and destroying the patriarchy. Now if you'll excuse them, my Luna and Hermione have to start packing for Hogwarts."

I stand, grateful to have a reason to get away from all the harpies, sexists, and sexist harpies. "Good evening to you all. It's been great to see you."

"Yes, this visit has been very informative."

"And while they walk out allow me to explain to you what will happen to the next person who talks shit about my girlfriend."

Hermione and I walk inside hand-in-hand as Neville chews out the people who tried to give us a hard time.

Hermione let out a breath when we were out of sight. "Merlin's saggy beard they get worse with each visit."

I nod. "And you've only really met them on vacation. One thing I'm excited about the wedding will be cutting out most of those relatives from the immediate family."

Hermione's eyes brighten with mirth. "That's right. The main Family only goes back to three generations."

"Yes and since Lady Augusta is still the matriarch until we marry, family gatherings include way too many cousins who have nothing to do with the main Family."

"Do they even realize that when you marry Neville they'll effectively lose access to the Longbottom fortune?" Hermione asks.

I give Hermione a look. "Of course they do it's why they keep trying to isolate me so much and keep trying to replace me with a more "appropriate" cousin."

"There is so much to unpack there."

"Don't, it's not worth the effort," I warn her.

She gives me a look. "...okay then. Moving on."

Instead of focusing on my nuptials or the Longbottom House dynamics, we spend our time walking from the formal garden to the main house talking about her spontaneous trip to Paris.

"Astoria has always been a kind if a little out of touch with the social scene."

Hermione snorts. "Pot, kettle."

"Between Lovegood business, starting a school, and searching for extraordinary creatures, I'm surprised I even had time for Eva," I explain.

We finally reach Hermione's room. It was organized chaos as she had started to pack away their things. Hermione would start moving things into her Hogwarts' apartment tomorrow and use Monday and Tuesday to get her classroom ready for classes to start Thursday morning.

A lot of the packing had been done. Only clothing had been unpacked after they had arrived from Germany, preferring to keep furniture and other items tucked away until the duo could settle in for the long term. Now only books and notebooks had to be packed. Clothing and random experiments would leave with her on Monday.

I grab a set of books and tuck them into a trunk labeled books. "Your room is a disaster but I'm going to miss seeing this place be lived in."

Hermione lets out a soft chuckle. "We'll be back on the weekends. Maybe more if you can fit Eva's tutoring into your "busy" schedule."

Oh? "You're not enrolling her in muggle school?"

"I am. I just thought you'd want to spend more time with your favorite niece while I'm...busy." She said gathering some scrolls into her arms.

My gaze softens then. "I can pick her up. Help with homework and all that."

"You can also reach out to Bill and George. Even if you can't officially call it a school I know they would be happy to get some educational help."

"It could be like how Molly taught me and the Weasley kids before we went to Hogwarts."

"You can get the experience now of handling a classroom full of chaotic children and in a few months you'll be getting paid for handling the overexcited brats." She jokes.

"Is Eva included in that?"

"She'd be the head of the pack!"

We both burst out laughing. Hermione's laugh was still a beautiful thing even if her full belly laughs were less frequent.

We worked in silence for a few minutes. Evangeline was spending the day with Victoire allowing Hermione to pack her professional items without having a child underfoot. She has been talking everyone's ear off about Harry (everyone except her mother who asked not to be informed to focus on her mental health). It was always Harry this and Harry that. He had become her very own superhero. And it had nothing to do with the fact that he was a war hero.

"You can ask." I look at Hermione. "About whatever your thinking, you can ask. I promise I won't get upset."

"I was just thinking about Eva but...are you really okay with her being around Harry?"

Hermione's face went through the typical range of emotions when Harry was mentioned. "Yes." She ran a hand through her hair, a nervous tick she could seem to get rid of. "Don't get me wrong I still feel...things about the whole situation but he's her father and their relationship shouldn't be dictated by my personal problems."

"That's quite the turnaround." For someone who had been unconsciously adamant about keeping them apart.

"It's only been two sessions so far but the doctor recommends separating my personal issues with Harry from their relationship. It's been...hard. But I'm trying."

I wrap my arms around her. "I'm so proud of you," I whisper into her hair.

This time it's happy tears that are falling.

Harry's p.o.v

Another draft is wiped off. I rub a hand down my face tiredly. This would probably be a conversation better had in-person but I didn't want to fall back into bad habits. I need the distance from the Weasleys, from everyone that has these expectations.

I resolve to try again.

'Dear Mr. Weas

Dear Arthur

Arthur,

I'm sure this letter is coming as an expected surprise. You've probably By now you've likely heard the news that I did what you told me. Please let me back Dad I'm not doing so well. It's not. This past week has helped me realize a few things and I think it's better if I keep my distance for now.

Thank you for slapping some sense into me. Your actions last time we met and Evangeline made me realize a few painful truths about myself. I don't know who I am dad. I don't think I've ever known. I quit the Auror force and I'm connecting with Eva. I promise it's not just because you told me. She's such a bright soul and I love her dad. I love her like I've never loved anyone before. You put the idea in my head but as soon as I saw her I knew I would do anything for her.

I'm attending therapy. It's a muggle thing where we talk to healers about our problems, how fucked up I am, the things going on in our heads. She's been really helpful, helping me fixing the faker I've become put things into perspective I'm meeting with her twice a week and it's been hard but Evangeline deserves a father who knows who he is right?

This letter is getting long though and I still haven't said what I wanted to. I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry sorry sorry. You and Molly have been nothing but great parent figures in my life and deserve better. I'm going to be better. I swear. Thank you for everything you've done for me. Hopefully next time you'll meet a man whose no longer just coasting through life. Next time we meet I hope to be a better man.

Harry Potter

Your son

Love

Your son,

Harry

SPOTTED: Mistress Granger and Lady Astoria Malfoy — IN PARIS

L'Parisian Magique

Newly returned from Australia, the younger Lady Malfoy was seen in the company of world-renowned dual Mistress, Hermione Granger.

Both women were seen shopping around the Parisian streets even sharing a meal while surrounded by shopping bags. Sources who were near the pair said they look like old friends catching up.

Lady Malfoy has been absent from the British social scene as she been working in Australia closing a business deal for Malfoy Industries. Meanwhile, Mistress Granger has recently been making waves with her return to the British Isles in a truly spectacular fashion.

These two have always been on the go, globe throttling multiple times a year so it wouldn't be a surprise if these two powerhouses have met even if only in passing. However none such evidence has been found. Either these two were keeping their friendship a secret or Lord Draco Malfoy introduced them and the two women have hit it off.

Whatever the case these two are proof that strong, independent women attract other strong, independent women.

A/N: Fanfiction has decided to work against me however I'm too hard-headed to give in. And to those who are asking when Hermione attended a second therapy session, she had an introductory meeting the 23rd while the second happened on the 25th off-screen. This is because Hermione has reached a tipping point (wanting to kill yourself for years is not good y'all) and they want to support her before she goes full-on suicidal. With time the sessions will go down to a more normal once per week.

Enjoy this chapter and I'll see you all next year. Happy Holidays! VV