A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! I am so excited to share this penultimate chapter to this story. It's a new perspective for the story, but I hope that you enjoy it still. You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions. Please let me know what you thought of chapter twenty-nine and be on the lookout for chapter thirty soon!

2002

Narcissa Malfoy was content to watch her only child sway around the dancefloor all night with the love of his life, and brand new wife, Hermione. She was thrilled to know that Draco had been able to follow his heart and marry the muggleborn girl, even if it meant an end to the pureblood Malfoy line. She hadn't believed much in that tosh since the war was over, and even better, she knew that it would drive Lucius absolutely spare. She couldn't wait to go and tell him the news.

A clearing throat got her attention, though, and the mother of the groom turned to find one of her oldest friends, Hermione Black, standing there with two champagne glasses in her hand. Narcissa happily took the one that was offered, before leaning back against the wall and taking a sip.

Hermione settled in beside her to watch the newlyweds twirl around again, the newest Malfoy looking gorgeous in her white dress.

"This reminds me of your wedding day," Narcissa quipped to the other woman. "Except I suppose we don't have to worry about Walburga getting drunk before dinner and smashing the wedding cake."

"Oh, that was terrible," Hermione answered with a snort. "And she wore that awful black veil," she added. Narcissa watched as her friend's face grew serious and she began to bite at her lower lip - a telltale that she was thinking over something that worried her. "Are you sure you don't mind that Draco ended up with...with her?"

With me, was the unspoken truth. Narcissa gave her friend a reassuring smile. "Of course I don't mind. I've gotten to know Hermione very well over the last fifteen years and I wouldn't pick anyone else for Draco. She lights up his whole world," she said fondly. "And, while the two of you are separate people, but I know your character and your values. I feel...assured that Draco will be happy with her."

She watched out of the corner of her grey eyes as all the tension in Hermione's shoulders faded away. "I'm glad for them," she affirmed. "Even if it's a bit odd to think that they ended up together."

"I take it that the first time around you were not friends with my son?" Narcissa asked, taking another drink of champagne.

"Definitely not," Hermione responded with a laugh. "Let's just say that we did not share ideologies. And I take it Draco did not enjoy being academically bested by a muggleborn. I actually even punched him once!"

Narcissa could feel her eyes widening at that. "Hermione!" she said with a gasp. "No, I don't suppose you did share ideologies, especially with Lucius's influences."

"Both you and Draco are happier without his influence," Hermione assured her, reaching out and giving Narcissa's arm a gentle squeeze. "I was wondering...with Lucius out of the picture, don't you ever think about dating someone?"

"Me?" Narcissa asked, pressing a hand to her fluttering heart. "I always just contented myself with my work. My main focus was on raising Draco. But now..."

"But now?" Hermione prodded with baited breath.

"Well, this past year, Draco and I celebrated Yule with Sirius's family, and I didn't know it, but Marlene had invited her older brother, and well...we really hit it off. I stayed up far too late talking with him. He's asked me to dinner, but I..." Narcissa trailed off, trying to choose her next words carefully. "Oh, I don't know, I just feel a little bit old to be dating."

"Nonsense, Narcissa! You certainly aren't old," Hermione scolded. "If he makes you happy, then, I think you should go out with him. It doesn't have to be more serious than you want it to be, but aren't you the least bit curious to see where it could lead?"

Narcissa was a bit curious, even if she didn't agree with Hermione's assessment that she wasn't old...she could feel the slow steady creep of fifty increasing in speed every day. Still, Colin McKinnon made her feel a kind of excitement that she hadn't felt in years. "I suppose you are right," the blonde woman agreed. "And, with Draco and Hermione set to go on a honeymoon, perhaps now is the perfect time to try."

"Now that we've handled your love life, it looks like I need to go sort out my own daughter's," Hermione said with a groan, pressing a flushed hand to her cheeks. "Honestly, I have no idea where she gets it. Neither Regulus nor I are this...outgoing."

"Flirty, you mean," Narcissa said, cheekily, watching as Cassiopeia Black, with her beautiful wavy, dark hair, newly seventeen, pressed herself against Harry Potter on the dancefloor like a cat wanting to climb a tree. Potter had the unique look of a man who was completely out of his depth and who had hit the jackpot at the same time. "It must be from her namesake," she teased, knowing Hermione's guardian had been quite the naughty girl during her school days.

Laughing, Hermione left Narcissa to her own devices to try and disentangle her daughter from Harry. Narcissa let her eyes sweep around the room again. Arcturus Black was attempting to keep up a conversation with his father, Regulus, but seemed far too enthralled by the low cut of the dress worn by Alphard's Italian model girlfriend. Alphard's sister, Agatha, for once was not intent on ruining their other brother's evening, and was instead in a deep conversation with Millie Potter. Stellan was trying to keep up with the vivacious Astoria Greengrass.

Finally, her eyes settled back on her son, who was unable to take his eyes off of his enchanting wife. The sight of it truly warmed her heart and she was so glad to know that her son was happy and healthy. She wouldn't have been able to forgive herself if Draco had had a future like the one Hermione had described under Lucius's toxic influence. It would be odd to know that it was no longer just her and Draco, but if she was honest, she was dying for grandchildren.

Thinking that she had slunk on the outskirts of the party long enough, Narcissa smoothed her dress and went to rejoin the wedding party.