Auror Juno had stepped down from being Head of the Auror's Department's Dark Arts Division almost two years ago. She had personally told Draco that she was resigning some three months ahead of time. He had thought the gesture was because she liked him and that they had a good professional relationship. While that had been the case, it was also because she had wanted him to take her place.

"I know what backlash you may get," Auror Juno had told him. "Which is why I want to work on the process internally as early as possible and before I officially step down so that no one can challenge it. Harry may have already approved the transition, but that doesn't mean he won't get others trying to oppose him. We'll both help you."

Draco had needed all the help he could get. There had been backlash, just as Auror Juno had said. Senior members of the Dark Arts Division, the Auror Department as a whole, and various members of the Ministry in general, all had a negative opinion of the change. However, Minister Shacklebolt was able to calm the masses and to remind them all that not only had Draco been a model citizen since the war and had proven to be an incredible asset to the department, Harry, as Auror Head, had the last say no matter what protest abounded.

Thus, Draco got promoted. And when there came room in the budget for a Junior Head to help with the expansion of the Division, Draco promoted Travers. All animosity that had been between them had died over the years. While exposure to one another helped, the blond had a feeling it had something to do with a newly attained wife and a daughter. Women, Draco had to admit, made all the difference in the world in a man's life.

So what was being a Department Division Head like? Paperwork. Lots of paperwork. His signature needed to be on just about everything which meant that he spent quite a bit of time running through the pros and cons of every activity in the Division. It also meant that all press talks related to newsworthy cases were handled by him. It was funny almost. The same news outlets who sought to write every trashy and negative thing about him now had to hang on every word he said as it was of "vital importance" and for the "safety of the community."

There was just one aspect of his job that he hadn't gotten used to yet, and she had just walked through his office door.

"Hello there, boss!"

Draco grinned before setting down his quill and looking up to find Lydia strutting into his office. He shook his head and leaned back in his chair.

"Will you ever not call me that?"

Lydia laughed. "Not at all. The Great Draco Malfoy is actually bashful about being in charge, so I'll forever call you that and every variant just to see you flush. It's hysterical."

Draco rolled his eyes and tried desperately not to flush just as she had alluded to. Lydia had been a DA Division Auror for the past month since returning back to work from maternity leave. It was hers and Uriel's first child, a son named Lucas. Once she had found out she was pregnant Lydia had promptly decided that espionage was not a wise career choice. Granted, neither was dark arts, but as she presented her transfer papers to him, she had said "If you can do it, so I can, mister." So he let her. That and the fact she'd break his arm otherwise.

"How's my godson?" Draco asked.

"Screaming like a banshee," Lydia replied with a contented expression. "And my boys?"

"Bigger banshees,"

Lydia laughed and went to sit down in front of his desk. "They're eight and seven. Of course they are. But you'll miss that shouting and roughhousing as soon as they're off to Hogwarts. It won't be much longer now."

"I know," Draco groaned as he slicked back his hair with his hands. "But baby number three will be three by the time Aiden goes, four for Caelum. That'll give Hermione and I another seven years before we're bored at home."

Lydia snorted. "Still using the identifier 'baby number 3,' are you? For Merlin's sake, you've known the gender since forever and picked out a name yet you refuse to tell anyone. Give us a break already."

"Not a chance," he answered smugly as he leaned neatly back into his seat. "You'll find out two months from now."

"Mean man," Lydia tutted. "I hope your hair starts to grey early."

Draco frowned. "Who's the mean one now?"

"Still you," she answered cheekily before she began to stand. "Anyway I'm off. Time to handle dangerous materials. With any luck and a generous boss," she winked, "I'll get done early today. Lucas is too young to properly enjoy it, but Uriel and I are dying to take him to the park and do all that mushy bonding stuff like push him on a swing. Hey, do you, Hermione, and the boys want to come too?"

Draco huffed and shook and his head. "I think parks are off the table for the foreseeable future."

"What? Why?"

"Caelum got picked on while in the park with my mother yesterday."

"Oh, Draco," Lydia smiled. "That's normal. All kids get picked on at least once in their life. You can't shield him from that."

"Yeah, well, this type of bullying included him getting called a 'Deatheater's kid.'"

Lydia's mouth dropped. She had been standing up, getting ready to leave the office, but now she was sitting again.

"That's awful! And a child said this to him?"

"Yes, a child," Draco broodingly replied. "Caelum just got a taste of what he'll experience when he gets to Hogwarts. Aiden's lucky," he scoffed. "The only thing he's got from me is grey eyes. He can easily drop his last name when school starts and claim no relation."

"But he won't," Lydia said sternly. "He's proud to be your son and thinks you're the greatest person ever. Caelum too."

"For now. Despite what Hermione says, there's a good chance that they won't once they find out what a Deatheater is. Caelum asked me last night. I have no idea how to answer that."

"You answer it with the truth."

Draco huffed. "The truth… You say that like it's easy."

"I didn't say that it would be. You can't sugarcoat the past, Draco, but you can be the one to tell your children first. Other people, they only have the half-truth. Exaggerated versions of it even. But only you know what really happened because you lived it. You can color how your children view you, and it's far better than having a stranger do it."

Draco fidgeted in his seat. He would definitely prefer it to come from him than some random person. With a deep sigh he nodded and Lydia have him a gentle pat on the hand.

"It'll work out," Lydia reassured him. "Don't you worry."

"Hell, that's terrible," Harry frowned bitterly. Hermione nodded in agreement and sighed as she stirred her tea for the twentieth time.

"It's more than that really," Hermione brooded. "It's more than that because Draco was right. As optimistic as I want to be, you and I both know that people are not forgiving when they've been wronged. History doesn't paint Draco well, or his mother, or Lucius-"

"History's right on that last one."

"Great, one out of three,"

"Hermione,-"

"I'm afraid of what of what Caelum's going to have to deal with," Hermione admitted, "looking exactly like Draco and all. The baby too if she -or he!" She said quickly before Harry could jump on the slip, "looks like him. And Aiden, well, he'll have his own issues to deal with, won't he?"

"I think he'll be alright. He's a strong kid," Harry smiled. "He took the news of being adopted pretty well."

Yes, he did, and Hermione had been over the moon about that. Despite not being biologically theirs, Aiden still had her hair and Draco's eyes. However, his light brown skin was a dead give away, and sometime last year he had asked his parents why his skin was different than everyone else's. The adoption bomb was going to be dropped eventually and that had been it. Hermione and Draco had sat him down and told him how they had met him when he was a baby, loved him on sight, and decided to bring him home. They had emphasized that he was very much a Malfoy just like Caelum and that they loved him the same. After a small pause he only had one thing to ask, and that was if he could tell strangers that the reason he looked different was because he got too much sun. That had been the best laugh she and Draco had ever had in their lives.

Hermione smiled at the memory and then took a deep breath when she felt a sharp kidney shot.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked quickly. Hermione nodded and smiled to ease his worry.

"I'm fine. The baby's just moving."

"You mean she's just moving?" He beamed proudly. Hermione laughed.

"You did not hear me say that, Mr. Potter."

"Oh, no, no, of course not. Didn't hear a thing."

Hermione rolled her eyes, clearly having been outed, and soon turned in the direction of sibling rivalry as one brother ran inside through the backdoor with the other running after him.

"Dad!" Albus yelled. "Make James play fair!"

"It's not my fault!" James yelled after him. "Those were the rules of the game!"

"No they weren't! Dad!"

Harry discreetly gestured to his kids with his head and Hermione held in her laughter poorly. James, seven, and Albus, five, reminded her of her boys. When she found out that Harry and Ginny's second child was going to be a boy, she had playfully scolded him, telling him to stop copying. Now that Hermione was on her way to having a third child and this time a girl, it appeared now that it was she that needed not to copy. Harry was a father of three, and Ginny was currently out with Lily (who was three) for her yearly Healer check-up.

When Harry finished attending to his children (ending with James sulking and Albus happily gloating), Hermione sighed contentedly.

"Harry, do you ever just sometimes...sit back and take a look at your life?" Hermione asked him. "A true, solid look and just ask yourself, 'How did I get here?'"

"Every day," Harry nodded. "And I'm thankful for every step that brought me here. The good and the bad."

"Bad" certainly couldn't have gotten worse than being hunted by the darkest wizard of all time. And he got through it because he was strong, and because he had the support of all of his friends. Hermione felt lucky to be one of them. And she felt lucky to have him be on the support end for her. No, things hadn't been all peaches and roses, but these days were sure smelling better lately.

Draco sat slumped in his mother's armchair and massaging his temples deeply. He'd been developing a headache since Lydia's visit to his office and now it was a full-blown migraine. It didn't help that his mother had dipped into her bag of cunning recently. He honestly didn't know whether to be annoyed at her or to praise her.

"She should have taught her son better," Narcissa mused happily as she raised a scone to her lips. "Besides, you should have seen the boy, Draco. There wasn't a single chance the school was going to accept his transfer. That boy..." she tutted and shook her head. "I can't even imagine him being in the same school as my grandchildren. Utter travesty."

That school was Dingersen's Academy. It was a fancy title for a magical school for kids. The school was divided up into two sections: one for everyday learning (maths, history, etc.), and the other for preliminary magical learning combined with regular studies. Aiden had begun going when he was five and Caelum at six due to his birthday being in December. However, the boys would be split up as of next week now that Caelum had begun showing his magic. Neither child had particularly liked that part.

The school had been helped financially over the years by Narcissa after Hermione had found it when looking for a place for Aiden and Caelum to go when they were the appropriate school age. They owed a great many thanks to his mother after that, and so of course any suggestion offered by Narcissa would be held in high regard. And so, after finding out about the unfortunate child's pending transfer through "discrete" means, all it took to end it was a tiny, intentional slip that having a boy such as Terry McClaggen among their pupils might not be such a good idea.

"Mother," Draco sighed as he let his hands fall from his head. "I understand your need to protect the family, but you shouldn't let a boy suffer just because he was raised by a crappy parent."

Narcissa's brow shot up neatly at that, and even Draco comprehended why as soon as the words had left his mouth. However, he didn't address it. He simply cleared his throat and adjusted his collar.

"What time is it?"

"Near eight," Narcissa replied despite still eyeing her son carefully.

"Hermione and Frizzle should be almost done getting the boys ready for bed by now."

"Are you still planning on having that talk with them tonight?"

"Yes," Draco frowned. "If I put it off I'll never do it."

"I understand," Narcissa replied, frowning just as much as her son. "Would you like me to be there also?"

Draco smiled fondly at his mother and then shook his head. "It's fine. I think it should be a father to sons conversation. But...if they have questions and they come to you…?"

"I will do my utmost to answer them appropriately," Narcissa nodded dutifully.

Draco thanked her and bid her farewell before taking the walk between her house and his. Hermione was down in the kitchen when he entered and finishing off what appeared to be her third chocolate frog. Her gaze when she saw him screamed loud and clear, "Not one word." However, he needn't be told. He knew better than to comment on a pregnant woman's eating habits.

"Are they in bed?"

"Jumping on them count?" Hermione grinned. Of course not, but both she and Draco liked to see their children enjoying life. Draco took a moment and looked up to the ceiling. He didn't hear Hermione move, but her stomach had reached him before her arms did and he closed his eyes to enjoy the comfort of her. "It'll be fine."

Hermione kissed him on the lips before pulling away and Draco took a deep breath before heading upstairs. He could hear his kids' raucous laughter as well as the bedsprings. He suddenly began to wonder if he ever had as much fun jumping on his bed as they did. Probably not. His childhood had been much more...rigid, for lack of a better term.

Draco turned the doorknob to Aiden and Caelum's room without knocking and he found them having the time of their life going up and down on Aiden's bed. When they spotted their father their jumping quickly ceased.

"We were just going to bed," Aiden lied with a wide smile. A cute one at that.

Slytherin, Draco thought immediately as he closed the door after him.

"Your bedtime got extended just for tonight," Draco told them. "We need to have a little chat."

"Are we in trouble?" Caelum asked, but his father shook his head.

"No, you're not in trouble. I… I wanted to answer your question from last night."

Draco sat down at the edge of the bed and encouraged both boys to sit near him. As he did so, he also rolled up his left sleeve. Although there had been a steady progression of fading in his youth where his Dark Mark was concerned, it stopped after a while. What was left now was a raw, red outline of the original Mark, and it took Draco a long time to come to terms with the fact that he would have this subtle reminder for the rest of his life.

Draco raised his bare arm a little. "Aiden, after what happened in the park yesterday, your brother asked what a Deatheater was. Do you remember a long time ago when you asked me about this?" He gestured to his arm. "About why it was so red? And you thought I had drawn on myself with red ink?"

Aiden nodded.

"Well, it used to be a mark. A tattoo, really."

"Mum doesn't like tattoos," Aiden said quickly. Draco smiled.

"No, she doesn't. She especially didn't like the one I had. It… It meant that I was a Deatheater. And Deatheaters… They weren't very good people."

The boys frowned and Draco could just imagine the questions swirling around in their heads at that. Regardless, Draco breathed deeply and plowed on.

"Deatheaters were...a group of people that followed a really bad man. He and everyone with him believed, wrongfully, that purebloods were the only ones who deserved to practice magic. And that meant Deatheaters did very bad things to people who were not, like muggleborns. Do you know what they are? Purebloods and muggleborns?"

Aiden and Caelum shook their heads and Draco knew that they would. He, Hermione, and his mother were very cautious not to bring up anything about blood status around them (except what muggles were to explain Hermione's magic-less parents). For one thing, blood status didn't matter. And secondly, it would only lead to questions and to conversations like this.

"Purebloods are people who have no muggles in their families, like me and your grandmother and all of my side of the family. Muggleborns are people like your mother who have no wizards in their families."

Caelum suddenly gasped and his face was so distressed that it made Draco sick. "That means you hurt mum?"

Aiden's expression soon matched his brother's, but Draco quickly began to shake his head with the hopes to get rid of those horrible reactions.

"No, never, I never hurt your mother."

"But what about that story mum told when you made her teeth get really, really big!" Aiden rebutted, moving his arms out to emphasize the growth.

"That was me being a stupid kid," Draco smiled gently. "But as Deatheater I promise you that I never hurt mum. Okay?"

Draco's "okay" was more of a plea rather than asking for confirmation. Aiden and Caelum were quiet for a while before the latter asked in a soft voice,

"Why were you a Deatheater?"

"...Because my father was one. And because I believed everything that a Deatheater did, but I changed my mind."

"Was grandma one too?" Aiden piled on. Draco shook his head.

"Not officially. She never had the Mark on her arm like I did or your grandfather. She changed her mind too."

"But not grandpa?" Caelum questioned with a tilted head. Draco felt a scowl coming at the mention of his father, particularly with that Azkaban visit still fresh in his mind.

"No," he said with a calm face and voice. "Not grandpa. That's why he's in Azkaban."

"And you and grandma are here because you're good people, right?"

"Yes," Draco said with a strong nod. "We're good people, and we love you and your mother, and we wouldn't hurt anyone. Unfortunately, though, there are people who don't believe that. People who don't like me or your grandmother and people who won't like you because your last name is 'Malfoy.'"

"Like that boy in the park," Caelum huffed and angirly crossed his arms. Draco gently undid them so his hands could settle on his lap instead.

"Yes, like him. And for that I'm sorry. People will dislike you because of things that my side of the family did. Things that I did. But that was a long time ago. I'm not a Deatheater anymore."

"You're a good person!" Aiden said proudly. Draco kept his pride on the inside and merely nodded.

"Exactly. And so are you, Aiden. You, too, Caelum. Don't let anyone tell you different. People can judge us all they want, but we know better. Right?"

"Right!" Aiden and Caelum shouted.

Draco felt the biggest relief at hearing their little shouts. They didn't hate him. They didn't think he was a monster. Granted, a deep pull of his gut kept telling him that once they read what had happened in history their minds would shift, but this… This right now Draco would take and pray with everything he had that they continued to love him despite his past mistakes.

Author's note: IT'S BEEN SO LONG! I did mention elsewhere that I'm a student, right lol? However, I haven't forgotten you/this story :). Draco finally got his talk out and he can breathe a little. As I told a couple reviewers, the rest of this story as it winds down is going to be dealing with some unresolved emotional/anger issues. Particularly on Draco's part. If I had to estimate an end chapter... Maybe 65 to 70.

-WP

Replies to Guests

Guests 1&2: Glad that you loved it! Hope that you like this one too especially after the long wait!

Guest 3: LOL. Lucius is terrible! I agree. We'll read more about him later actually. And yes, that mother is just as awful for instilling terrible values in her kid. Shameful. As for the reason why there's an 8-year gap between kids, that'll be explained soon :)

Guest who reviewed ALL OF MY CHAPTERS: First, thank you! And to answer a few of your questions: Chap 44: Yes, Hermione did leave her job. Not necessarily quit, but an agreement to give it up as her main focus has now become her orphanage. And the dinner was for pretense sake. While revenge is fun and Merlin knows Tiberius deserves it, the last thing they wanted was to have any leads that point to them purposefully luring him to the house just for torture. As for why Narcissa was the only one who got to "play," it can be summed up simply from what she said, "I won't have her (Hermione) looking down on you for Tiberius' treatment nor will I have your conscience burdened by it." It's kind of hard to shed your past if you keep living in it. Granted Draco will still fight for his family, but the way in which he fights is different now than before (most times lol).

jktlbfhi: :(. I hope you get everything that you deserve *hugs*