Draco 1 September 2017

"Kids, come on. You can't be late. The train will leave without you. Ask Uncle Harry." I laugh as my wife is calling from downstairs. Trying to get three pre-teenagers awake, and moving in the morning is not an easy challenge. Rose has been up for over an hour. Her trunk ready to get to King's Cross. Scorpius isn't far behind, though he's still throwing stuff in his trunk every 15 or so minutes.

"Son, there is only so much you can bring to school and probably even less that you genuinely need," as he races by me for the third time this morning. I just got done trying to wake up Hugo - again.

"Dad, come on. I think I should at least bring two guitars."

"One, the acoustic one. Right Rose?" I look over at my stepdaughter who is trying to concentrate on what she's reading but really she's listening to our conversation.

"Oh, I don't know that much about guitars to tell the difference," she claims although she's been sitting in her doorway listening to Scorp sing and play his guitar for the last couple of days.

Knowing her she's looked it up somewhere already.

"Both of you have your phones? McGonagall gave you special permission for them." I remind them. "Also it's mostly for emergencies or calling home. Not for getting pizza flooed in, understand."

Rose chuckles and nods while Scorpius has the wheels in his head turning, trying to find a loophole. That's my Slytherin son there.

"Also, the whole deal with your necklace" I sit her down and take her book that she isn't reading, "it is connected to you and to your mum and I. If ever you get truly panicked, it will let both of us know. It isn't for just when you're at school either. It is anytime. So if there is something in Defense Against the Dark Arts that looks like it'll terrify you, please let your mum and I know before. Otherwise you might just have the aurors and Theo and his security team all swoop in."

"I understand. But what if I don't know I'm going to be afraid?"

Damn good question. "Well it is connected to you, it will understand what you are seeing is real or not. Keep thinking 'it's not real' or 'help' and it can tell the difference. The big thing is, when you have the class on the boggart, let us know."

"Dad, shouldn't I know too? I mean I'm closer than any of you and you can't apparate into school."

"We have parameters son, but if you think something will genuinely terrify her, let me or your mum know. You two probably won't have all your classes together, but some. Look out for each other." Like I have to tell my son that. "And don't embarrass us, please. I've done enough to embarrass all of you for generations."

"Dad, I am going to ask one more time to make sure the answer hasn't changed - I can try out for quidditch this year, right?"

"Yes you can. And you may. I hope you make it. You won't be the youngest player - Harry beat you on that - but it would make me proud." Especially since McGonagall already knows Harry and I will probably be out for at least the Slytherin/Gryffindor match.

"Darling are the kids ready yet?" my beauty asks as she extracted herself from her office and rejoined the rest of the family.

"All present except Hugo." As I reach over to her and drag her cute little frustrated self over closer to me. I am never ever letting this witch go.

"Hugo Jace Weasley get down here now. You're holding you sister and stepbrother up." She yells out in frustration. This kid can sleep through a hurricane I think.

"Coming mum," he mumbles trudging downstairs only partially dressed and I think he's wearing his shoes on the wrong feet.

"Um Hugo, do you need some help with that? Or a shot of pepper-up potion? Or a double espresso?" This poor boy needs something to get him going this morning, well before it is afternoon.

My wife elegantly draws out her wand and waves it over her semi-awake son fixing his button mishap (I don't know how you can mess up the buttons on a polo shirt, there's only 3 of them), to his shoes righting themselves.

She looks at me apologetically, "don't ask, we've done this many mornings." Turning to the older kids, "Let's get a going, you're off to Hogwarts today!"

My wife's excitement is - well - her. I can only imagine how annoyingly chipper she would have been the night before our own train rides to school. I'm watching her and feeling wave after wave of joy and enthusiasm for what lies ahead of our kids. It is almost if she was returning, returning to the place she loved, the library that was her second home, her friends, and the classes that brought her such success and notoriety at such a young age.

Watching Rose and Scorpius cross the barriers for platform 9 ¾ I remember back to my first year. I was a jerk. Who was I to think I knew all the answers to the world at 11? I didn't, looking back, but the arrogance and superiority complex that was instilled in me at such a young age probably hindered my education, and definitely hindered my social wellbeing.

My son and stepdaughter, they know that they don't know it all, but honestly they have a better head on their shoulders than I ever did.

I squeeze my wife's hand, we decided ahead of time that this is where we separate. "I love you, my beautiful witch."

"I love you too, my handsome ferret."

"Ouch, that was low."

"Tell me about it later darling, otherwise who knows where our kids will end up."

"Yes dear." I say smirking as the most beautiful witch ever walks through the barrier holding her son's hand.

10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

Now I can cross and meet up with my ex wife and son.

I smile as I pass Rose, Hugo, and Hermione with Ronald. I give him a once over, just to remind him that she's my responsibility. I notice some members of my security team, also sending their kids off today, but keeping an eye on my wife and stepkids' safety.

"Greetings Astoria, you are looking stunning and well today," I give my ex wife a slight hug, because I completely lied. She looks dreadful. Not ugly, but this sickness is taking over and she looks barely able to stand. I'm afraid one hug and she might break. It is like her body is made of fragile pieces of blown glass, beautiful yet so very delicate.

"Mother, dad only let me bring one guitar. And I triple checked, he said I can try out for the quidditch team."

"Scorpius Malfoy, you don't need to worry yourself with either of these issues. It is your first year. Enjoy it. Oh and your aunt Daphne sends her love. She's sorry she couldn't be here today, but she is in the French countryside, still, for the season."

I catch a glance over to Harry, Ginny and their children. Nudging Scorpius, I point out Al is having some hiccups on his way to the train. He just looks up at me, smiling.

That was something that we did really well this last month. Scorpius and Al, no matter what house they are sorted into later, I believe they will be best friends.

My son's mother is tearing up, holding onto our son like her lifeline.

"Draco," she looks pleadingly at me.

"I know Astoria. I know." As I rub her back. She's afraid. Afraid of how many more of these she will have, how many hugs, how many times she'll see him off to school.

My heart breaks for her. And more so for Scorpius. He's the one that will be left with only memories of his Mother. She isn't letting him go, I don't think she ever would let him go, if given the chance.

I'll have him spend a majority of the summer this year with her.

Hermione, I notice, is fussing over Rosie still. It warms my heart. I know if given the opportunity, she would be doing the same for Scorp. One of the reasons I love her: she doesn't distinguish between kids. We have a daughter and two sons. Both of us believe that. 'Step' is just a word to distinguish that there are additional parents out there that love our kids.

It wasn't my plan. But a change in plans was what our lives needed.

Hugo has a hold of his dad. It is what he longed for since he heard that Ronald was alive. It hurts, but I'm alright. Ronald is his father, as lousy of a weasel as he is, but the genetics and that connection is still there.

I can't tell what Ronald is saying to Rosie, but the way he's looking over here makes me on edge. I will stand up for any of these children, which is more than I can say for weasel.

Hugo and Rose have yet to meet their sister. And Ronald had not made arrangements with Hermione to have them see her. I don't even know if the baby's mum knows about Rosie and Hugo, or if she cares to. I know my wife really doesn't have any interest in knowing the baby nor the baby's mum.

It is our last moments with the kids. I end up prying my son out of Astoria's arms as I wipe a tear from her cheek. "Malfoys don't cry."

"I'm not a Malfoy anymore Draco."

"You will always be a Malfoy. Right son?"

"Of course dad." He looks up at her, seeing another tear try and escape. "Please Mother, don't cry. I'll write, a lot. And I know dad will keep you up on what's going on too. I'll be back for the holidays soon Mother." He gives her another hug, "I love you."

"I love you too my little Scorpius."

"Start writing tonight, we both want to know what house you're in."

"Dad, we all know it is Slytherin," he says with an ounce of sass and a pinch of snark.

"Fine, tell me at least what house Al is in. That's going to be the interesting one." I give him a pat on the back. My little boy, the one that I held in my arms not that long ago, is growing up. He has a lot more growing up to do, but I am proud of who he has become in these 11 years.

The train is about to pull out and I say my last farewell to my son. Even I'm emotional, knowing what lies ahead of him. Well he'll carve his own path, but there are some things that don't change during the next seven years.

And so many things that do change.

Astoria and I watch the train leave, leave with the most precious cargo known to the wizarding world - our children.

"Come on dear, would you like me to take you home?"

"No Draco, I'm fine." I give her a disbelieving glance. "Really I am." The Potters and Weasleys catch her eye. "Go to her. I know how she feels right now, she feels like a piece of her was just ripped from her. She'll need you."

"You need me too, Astoria."

"Not now Draco. Go." She insists.

"I will, but not here." We were going to meet at the Burrow, Hugo's grandparent's home; where he was going to spend the weekend. Giving my wife and I some more private time to celebrate. Or as Ginny keeps hinting, 'working on that baby'.

She smiles weakly. "Soon there will be no boundaries. Soon it will be the two of you against the world. Is that what you planned Draco?"

"No. Not at all." I look at the Golden Trio, together really for the first time in almost a year. "No we had a change in plans."

~Fin~


This is the end. Epilogue to follow... I won't wait until the 'date' of the epilogue... I don't want you to wait until November.
Thank you for reliving this ride. It was originally written in 2017 in honor of the Epilogue to DH. Yes I made it fit. :)

I am still floundering on a sequel. I have a few chapters, but I don't see it going anywhere. Or rather, I can't see an end in sight so finding the middle is hard.

Thank you again for the reviews, favorites, and follows. It has been an honor to try and manipulate the beautiful world the JK created (and owns).