May 19th, 2012

"Nysa, eat the mashed bananas, please?" Hermione begged as she removed the spoon from her daughter's mouth. Unfortunately, the yellow mush still dribbled from her lips. And then she grinned.

"Told you, mum," Aiden said as he bit into his toast. "Nysa doesn' like ba-anas."

"Aiden, stop mimicking Uncle Ron and chew with your mouth closed," Draco lightly scolded. He smirked at Hermione who had cocked a brow at the remark. Even after all these years he had to throw one out from time to time.

"It's okay, Nysa," Caelum encouraged. "Bananas are disgusting."

Aiden snorted. "Weirdo,"

"You're the one who hates chocolate frogs," Caelum counterd. "Who doesn't like chocolate frogs?"

"They move when you try to eat them! It's like trying to eat a real frog!"

"And that's why you bite off the legs first," Draco grinned as he sipped his tea. "That way they don't hop away."

Aiden's face fell with pure horror while both Draco and Caelum laughed. Even Nysa giggled which added to the difficulty of trying to get her to eat. Hermione decided to give up for the moment and sat back in her seat as her eyes passed over the table. This was her family. Despite all the hell and torment trying to get here, they did, indeed, get here. From her two miracle children Caelum and Nysa, to Aiden, who caused her to gain hope when it had been lost, to Frizzle, the freed house elf who still took it upon himself to help where needed, even when not asked (like making breakfast), and to Draco, the person Hermione was the most proud of as his journey, no one could deny, had been the hardest, lasted the longest, and was still going.

"Mum, Nysa's making her bathroom face," Caelum pointed out. Lo and behold Nysa's face was scrunched up in a fretful fashion before that familiar odor hit the air.

Hermione turned to Draco, smiled and said, "Your turn."

"Darn, I knew I should've taken the late night shift," Draco half-joked before getting up from the table and taking Nysa from her highchair. The crying started when he did, but he merely grinned as he walked with her from the kitchen and through the house upstairs.

"No need to fret," Draco cooed as they made it to her nursery. "I'm going to get you all cleaned up so your mum can try to feed you again."

Nysa's face was streaked with tears, her loud cries toning down to little whimpers. Draco's own tears were ready to spring when he finally got Nysa's diaper undone.

"Hell, that's ripe," he wrinkled his nose. "I'll never get used to that." Nysa laughed and kicked her feet while Draco got rid of the offending item. "Yeah, you laugh alright. At least you won't be a pee-shooter like your brothers. That was an experience."

Children were an experience, period, but Draco loved every moment of it. Even times like these.

"Are you good now? Draco asked after he was finished. He took the happy grin on her face as a yes and picked her back up. Her hands gravitated to his face, namely the light, well-maintained 5-o'clock shadow he'd taken to keeping. She liked to play with it, and he let her, even if it made his chin sore.

That's the kind of thing you did for your kids.

February 22nd, 2013

Draco liked to come home to find Hermione waiting for him. It was like a daily welcome home present. He was greeted with smiles, a kiss, and a hug meant to break bones. Anyone would think that he'd gone on an extended trip and had just come back. Throw in his daughter on her hip or clumsily walking behind her mother and his sons running from wherever they were in the house to meet him, it was nice.

Tonight, however, Draco got a different vibe. Hermione wasn't waiting for him and none of his children were in sight. He poked his head out into the hall and frowned. Maybe they were over at his mother's? The answer to that was a "no" as Hermione stepped into the hall from their bedroom and smiled, albeit not as brightly as usual, and gestured with her head to follow her. Draco took a deep breath and did as she instructed and followed her into their room.

"Something tragic happened, didn't it?" Draco asked after he closed the door. He should be used to such events by now. Hermione, however, shook her head.

"No, nothing tragic. You do have to have a talk with your sons, though. While your mother was watching Nysa, I was with Aiden and Caelum at school meeting with their teacher."

"Ah, brought to school one of George's toys again, didn't they?" He suggested, feeling all sorts of relief overcome him.

"Not this time. They were 'defiant,' to use their teacher's words, when they refused to do an assignment given to them."

"You're kidding. They worship learning just as much as you do."

"'Worship' is a bit much," Hermione chuckled. Then she sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Draco, they have to do a history report on the war."

There went Draco's relief. He knew that this day would come eventually, but he'd been trying to forget it. At least there was some comfort in knowing that both he and Hermione had had talks with their sons on more than one occasion about their pasts. One conversation when they were eight about what a Deatheater was wasn't going to be enough. And so, over time they were given more details about the war. His and Hermione's parts in it, both the good and the bad. It had been...difficult at times, but in time they had understood and appreciated the fact that their father had changed for the better.

"They didn't want to do the assignment because, to quote our boys this time, the history book is wrong."

Draco blinked. Then he smiled. "Is that so?"

"Mhmm," Hermione followed suit in his smile. "They told their teacher, in front of the entire class no less, that they would trust their parents more than some book. Needless to say, I think that's why they've been labeled as defiant. Not to mention why their teacher hates me now."

Draco laughed. "What did you do?"

"Told her that I was proud of them, of course," Hermione beamed. "And that, yes, they will do their assignment, but they'll write it as it happened."

"I'm curious now. What does the book they have say that's wrong?"

"For starters, that you helped to capture Harry, Ron, and me at your Manor. It also conveniently leaves out how you didn't identify Harry when Bellatrix asked."

"Typical," Draco huffed. "What else?"

"I believe it was you who set the Room of Requirement ablaze with Fiendfyre instead of Goyle and proceeded to attempt to kill me and my friends."

"Holy hell, seriously?"

Hermione nodded and then grinned. "Aiden and Caelum threw quite a fit over that. They're waiting in their room so that you can go over the 'proper' story."

"You mean we," Draco said as he took her hand. "I'm not the only one getting homework tonight."

Hermione immediately pouted as Draco led her from the room. "Aw, do I have to?"

"Are you actually whining?" Draco laughed.

"Yes,"

Draco shook his head, laughing still, and stopped short of their sons' bedroom door and gathered her in his arms. "You are the oddest, yet loveliest woman I have ever had the pleasure to know and have in my life."

Hermione willed herself not to blush, but it was quite impossible. "Kiss arse," she said to save face. Draco kissed her forehead.

"Thank you. Now let's go get Aiden and Caelum high marks on this thing."

September 3rd, 2014

"She's still crying, you know," Ron chuckled as he leaned against the wall. "She walks pass Rose's bedroom and bursts into tears."

Draco laughed. "Lavender's not any better than Hermione. The difference is she says that she's fine, but then I hear a sniffle as she walks away."

"What are we chatting about gents?" Blaise asked as he strolled up with his own drink. Ron smirked.

"How many buckets of tears our wives have shed since the oldests have gone off to Hogwarts."

"Buckets?" Blaise scoffed. "Liliana could flood a whole city."

"I could not!" Liliana huffed as she came to stand next to her husband. "I only cry a little."

"Now, now," her husband grinned. "There's no need to lie."

Liliana could feel her face reddening, but as she was about to reply, the crowd of parents taking up space in the Malfoy living room began to quiet down.

"I've got the letter!" Hermione announced. She was standing in the front of the room, holding said letter in her hands as though it was a precious thing. It was from Aiden and had remained unopened since it arrived that morning, waiting to be read by the families gathered in room. Why all the dramatics? They all had decided to turn tonight into a "Sorting Fest" considering three of the group of friends' children had gotten on the Hogwarts Express just two days ago.

"I'll take that," Harry said as he snatched the letter from her. "Your kid's sorting is in here, so you'll be surprised just as everyone else."

Hermione frowned and grumbled, but sat down as instructed as Harry opened the letter.

"Okay, here we go. 'Dear mum, just like you asked, here's what happened at the sorting. Tell Uncle Blaise and Aunt Liliana that Giana was sorted into...Slytherin!'"

"Thank Merlin," Blaise breathed as everyone cheered. Harry continued once they were all settled.

"'Uncle Ron and Aunt Lavender will be happy to know that Rose...followed family tradition and ended up in Gryffindor. She's really happy to be in the same House as Victoire. As for me, I ended up in…" Like the others, Harry paused for dramatic effect, but longer, and long enough for Draco to groan aloud.

"Potter, I'm going to strangle you."

"...Slytherin with Giana," Harry finished with a grin. "Merlin, not even your biological kid and he still ended up in Slytherin? Well, I think that solves the nature versus nurture debate," he chuckled.

Hermione laughed. "I guess so." She looked back at her husband from her spot on the couch and said, "You're thrilled, I imagine?"

"Are you kidding?" Draco beamed. "I'm over the bloody moon. Ten galleons Caelum follows."

"I'll take you up on that," Uriel chimed in. "Caelum is a proud Gryffindor if I've ever seen one."

Draco shivered. "Bite your tongue."

"Hey," Hermione pouted. "What's wrong with being a proud Gryffindor?"

"Nothing," Draco backpedaled before muttering, "that I can say aloud."

"Too bad no Hufflepuff," Ginny said. "Poor Teddy was hoping not to be alone again."

"At least he can take pride in watching out for his 'favorite kids' as prefect," Harry countered, although Draco snorted.

"Watching? Turning a blind eye, you mean. Detention slips within two weeks. I guarantee it."

Hermione gasped. "Don't say that! It would be terrible if they broke school rules."

Ron chuckled from where he stood. "Alright, Miss Polyjuice."

Hermione's cheeks reddened at that as she leaned further back into her seat. "That was...for investigative purposes."

"Investigative purposes?" Draco repeated. "For what?"

Harry laughed. "Funny you should ask…"

September 4th, 2014

Hogwarts was bigger than any of his family had told him. And those moving staircases! How did people not get turned around on those things?

Aiden had a near panic attack yesterday trying to find one of his classes and neither Giana nor Rose could help because it was one of two that they didn't have together. Luckily, Teddy had run into him and became his personal escort before he totally lost it.

Today was better, thank Merlin. Professor McGonagall had given him a map of the school which helped tremendously. He had a feeling it had something to do with not wanting him late for her class. At least Giana was sharing this class with him, but they didn't sit near each other though (assigned seating). As Aiden waited for the class to start, a wide-eyed blond girl sat next him. He remembered her well from the sorting because her huge eyes didn't leave him from the moment his name had been called to the moment he went over to the Slytherin table. It had been creepy then and sure creepy now that it was up close.

"You're a Malfoy?" She asked him suddenly. He looked at her and replied simply,

"Yes,"

The girl tilted her head and tapped a finger on her chin as she did. It was even more awkward now that he was looking at her. Not just the fact that her eyes were right on him, but she also wasn't blinking.

"You don't look like a Malfoy," she said plainly. "My mum told me that when I got here that I should find Draco Malfoy's son and be his friend."

Aiden blinked. "Why?"

"Kids are mean and not many people like Mr. Malfoy, your dad.

Again Aiden blinked. Slower this time. Was this girl for real?

"Anyway," she continued brightly. "You're not what I was expecting."

"Let me guess," he humored her. "You were expecting blond hair and far paler skin, yes?"

"That's right."

"I'm adopted."

"Oh…. I see. Well, I'm your new friend," the girl replied happily with her hand outstretched. "Anna Scamander. Ravenclaw."

"Um, thanks?" Aiden dumbly answered as he shook her hand.

"You're welcome! Do you want to help me de-Nargle the Great Hall later?"

Before Aiden could even ask what a Nargle was, the class had begun, and his self-appointed new friend Anna gave him one big smile and then turned straight ahead to listen to their professor. He was floored, honestly, but there was nothing that he could do except run with it.

Hogwarts was definitely one interesting place.

December 25th, 2014

"Look at the cake!" Lily exclaimed as she stared at the massive six-layer cake. "When do you think we can eat it?"

"I heard mum say after dinner was served," Albus replied to his sister. "So later."

"Aw," Lily whined, but Raphael, Blaise's son, gently knocked into her shoulder.

"That doesn't mean we can't have icing at least," he said sneakily. "No one's going to notice if we just stick a finger in there."

"Are you sure?" Hugo asked warily. "There's like a million people here."

"Exactly!" Raphael nodded. "And they're all out there having too much fun to pay attention to us. Look at them."

Hugo and Lily did just that and yes, there were tons of guests, and yes they were all in their own little worlds as they enjoyed the evening. As well they should. Aside from it being Christmas, it was also their Aunt Hermione and Uncle Draco's wedding anniversary. Uncle Draco's mum had planned the party for everyone and she went all out. It was in a really large ballroom with a Christmas tree in four different corners, sparkling chandeliers on the ceiling, house elves serving little snacks, long tables with food that people could grab themselves, and then, of course, the cake.

"Alright, you four," Victoire said as she approached. "You've been staring at this cake for way too long. Away from the table."

"We were just looking at it! Honest," Raphael smiled. Victoire cocked her brow before shaking her head and chuckling.

"Of course you were. Now go on."

The four children frowned and ran off while Victoire smiled after them. She understood the appeal of a large mass of sugary goodness and wanting to devour the whole thing. She was a kid once too. Well, she still was if you were to get technical about it, but sixteen was a far cry away from being six or seven.

Victoire panned the room and examined the festivities from where she stood. She spotted Narcissa having her fun of ordering around any and every house elf to make sure that the party maintained a high level of excellence. She saw her parents speaking with her Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny. Aunt Hermione was having an animated conversation with her friends Lydia and Liliana. And of course there was Teddy, getting reprimanded as usual by his grandmother, Andromeda, for his choice in hair color for the evening. Victoire chuckled at that. Teddy's hair was always something different. And somehow always perfectly complemented the curve of his face, brightening his eyes, not to mention bringing out the beauty in his smile…

"Someone put a Confundus Charm on you or something?"

Victoire blinked. A hand was being waved in front of her face and it was attached to the man of the hour.

"Oh," she replied sheepishly. "Sorry."

"You should be," Draco teased. "Besides, you haven't asked me to dance once for the evening. I'm actually starting to feel offended."

Victoire laughed. "I would have asked eventually. I'm just…" she paused when she heard Teddy's laugh from somewhere and sighed. "...A little distracted at the moment."

Draco cocked a brow in the air and began searching the crowd of party guests to try to see what (or who rather) Victoire was so obviously searching for. Eventually he heard his favorite niece's lovesick sigh and he followed her gaze more closely, smiling, when he found the culprit.

Draco stroked his chin as he said, "It wouldn't have anything to do with a five-foot-nine, metamorphmagus I call 'cousin,' does it?"

Victoire felt herself blush terribly as she shamelessly nodded. "It's awful. We've been friends since we were kids and I don't know what to do."

"I would think actually telling him that you like him would be a first step, no?"

"Oh sure, like you just went up to Aunt Hermione and told her that you liked her."

"Not a good example," Draco chuckled. "Our love story is off the beaten path of normal. You, on the other hand, should be able to go the regular route."

"And if Teddy doesn't think of me as more than just a friend?" Victoire frowned. "I'd be devastated. I'd rather stay in a state of unknowing in that case."

"Sure, sure. And drool over him from afar. That's an attractive look."

"Uncle Draco…"

Draco smirked and stretched. "I'll take care of it. This is a far simpler trouble than I thought you might need help with."

"Yeah? What did you think I'd need help with?"

"Threaten or torture someone."

Victoire blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry? Why would I need your help with that?"

"You never know," Draco said with a shrug. "However, if either had been the case I would've said yes. I would've just needed time to prepare," he added with a wink. "Give me about...fifteen minutes."

"You're going to talk to him? Now?" Victoire gasped with wide eyes. "Uncle Draco, I don't think-"

"Do you want to find out how he feels or not?"

Victoire stared at him for a full thirty seconds before tilting her head and saying, "...Yes?"

Draco smiled. "Alright then."

Draco walked away and through the partygoers to make it to Teddy who was having the time of his life having a conversation with one of the house elves.

"Draco!" Teddy greeted vibrantly. "Have you tried one of these things?" He asked, a pastry in his hand. "It's delicious! Kripley was just telling me how to make it."

Yes, he'd had the pastries. Yes, they were fantastic. However, Draco had finally noticed his cousin's hair and was transfixed by it.

"Purple, white, and pink?"

"What? Too much?" Teddy questioned. "My grandmother thinks it looks ridiculous."

"I wouldn't say 'ridiculous.' I will say that you've nailed the unicorn look quite well."

Teddy screwed up his mouth for a moment before letting a bit of dark brown take the place of white between the purple and pink.

"Better?"

"Much," Draco nodded. "So, do you want to date Victoire or not?"

Teddy stumbled where he stood. "Wow," he said sheepishly as he rubbed a hand at the back of his neck. "Just going to drop that right on me, are you? No preamble or anything…"

"We talked about your hair for three minutes. That's a preamble."

"Um, yeah, I guess so."

"Exactly. So? Your answer is what?"

Teddy grew red in the face much like Victoire had done previously. If that wasn't indication enough, his eyes subtlety searching for the witch in question was answer enough.

"Why do you ask?"

"Because she's going to die if she doesn't find out how you feel about her."

Teddy's mouth fell open. "Victoire likes me? Likes me, likes me?"

Draco grinned. "I think she'd melt into a puddle if it was physically possible."

Teddy began smiling like a madman. "Really? I guess I don't have to be scared to ask her out anymore."

"That a boy," Draco encouraged as he slapped a hand onto his shoulder. "How long have you liked her anyway?"

"I…don't think there was a time I had ever not liked her."

"Well, look at you. A regular romantic."

"Oh please," Teddy snorted. "If anyone's a 'regular romantic' it's you. You and Aunt Hermione are great, mind you, but you're also a little sickening together."

"So we've been told," Draco said brightly. "To this day I have no idea what she sees in me, but I take advantage of it as much as I can in case it's just a dream."

"A dream?"

"Yeah… A too good to be true type of thing," he answered, taking the time to find his wife, spotting her across the way and laughing at something his mother was saying. "There are days that I sit around, waiting to wake up, completely sure that none of this is real."

"And when you realize that it is?"

"I punch myself in the gut so I don't turn into a pathetic mess."

Teddy laughed. "Does it work?"

Draco smiled. "Not at all."

September 3rd, 2015

"Where's my ten galleons, Mr. Malfoy?" Uriel teased.

"For Merlin's sake, can you wait? I'm wallowing here," Draco brooded.

Hermione watched the exchange from afar and laughed hysterically.

"I could kiss you, Hermione," Lydia chuckled. "It's only because of you could centuries of Malfoy tradition die in one day."

"Muggleborn for a wife and a Gryffindor for a son along with Harry Potter's firstborn. Not bad," Hermione grinned. "I think the cherry on top would be if either James or Albus marries Nysa. Think of it, a Potter on the Malfoy family tapestry."

"Lucius would die," Ginny cried joyfully as she wiped tears from her eyes.

"Absolutely," the brunette agreed. "My marriage into the family was a big enough nail in his coffin already. If Nysa is in Gryffindor too, even better."

"Too bad Aiden and Caelum will be out of school by the time she goes," Liliana commented.

"True, but the rest of the kids will be there already by the time she does."

"And all boys minus Lily," Ginny chuckled. "Merlin forbid she tries to date."

"I think Draco will have that well covered," Hermione laughed.

"Daddy Malfoy to the rescue," Lydia beamed, contently watching as the blond in question finally forked over the ten galleons to her husband.

November 2016

Aiden was looking over his list and every two seconds he was writing down something new. By the looks of it he'd be on his second roll of parchment soon enough.

"Anything else that you want, your highness?" Aiden asked his brother who was walking beside him towards the Hogwarts grounds. "A crown, perhaps?"

"Hey, it's not my fault that I have to wait another year to go to Hogsmeade," Caelum rebutted. "Oh! Licorice wands. Two of them. No! Three."

Aiden shook his head as he wrote down the new item. "I'm going to run out of pocket money at this rate."

Caelum snorted. "The day we run out of money is the day Nysa says that you're her favorite."

"Oh, so we're going to be broke then?" Aiden smirked. "Regardless, next time ask Giana or Rose to buy you stuff."

"What? And be inconsiderate?"

Aiden sighed and rolled up his parchment. He and Caelum had finally made it onto the grounds. They were going to meet Giana and Rose there. Aiden had asked Anna if she had wanted to go, but she declined, saying that she wanted to take advantage of an empty dormitory and look for Wrackspurts on the pillows of her roommates. Still an odd girl, but ultimately one of his best friends.

"What's that?"

Terry Mclaggen had snatched a small, thin object from Aiden's hand and had brought it up to his narrow eyes to inspect. His two friends, thing one and thing two, were equally enthralled.

"It's called a pen," Aiden answered irately. "It's used for muggle writing."

Terry huffed. "What do you need a muggle pen for?"

"Beats having an ink set floating after me while walking and writing, don't you think?" Aiden said smartly as he held out his hand. "Either eat it or hand it back, Mclaggen."

"You know, Malfoy," Terry continued, still with the pen in his hand. "I'm surprised that you even have access to this thing. Your father know you're using one of these things?"

"Oh look," Caelum rolled his eyes. "A not-so-subtle wisecrack about our dad. Is that all that's ever on your mind? So our father was a Deatheater. Big deal. He's the Head the Dark Arts Division in the Auror Department too. Got something to say about that?"

"Yeah, it means that the Ministry's daft to let your evil father near a wand. Don't worry. They're bound to realize their mistake sooner or later. And my parents and I will be seated first row at his sentencing."

Caelum narrowed his eyes and balled his firsts, but Aiden held onto his shoulders before it became a three-on-two situation. He didn't miss how Mclaggen's lackeys were ready to jump in.

"Don't, Caelum. Obviously," Aiden sneered at his classmate, "he doesn't get it."

Mclaggen scoffed. "Get what?"

Aiden smiled. "That with a former Deatheater, turned Dark Arts Auror as our father, my brother and I have learned a lot of tricks." He pulled out his wand and aimed it. "Do you want to see?"

Mclaggen stared at the wand that was directly in his face. Time ticked away as no one moved. Aiden tightened his hold.

"Anything else to say Mclaggen?" Aiden teased.

"... Let's get a move on boys. We've got a Hogsmeade trip to get to."

Mclaggen finally walked off. When he and the other two were out of earshot Caelum spoke.

"Dad didn't teach us anything. He said that he'd let grandma do it when we're older before mum killed him."

"I know," Aiden replied as he put his wand away. "Mclaggen didn't know that, though."

Caelum looked at him. "What if he called your bluff?"

Aiden shrugged. "I didn't think that far ahead, honestly."

His little brother groaned and threw his hands into the air. "Reckless! Absolutely, reckless! How you got sorted into Slytherin is beyond me."

"...I asked to be."

Caelum, who had just started walking towards the mass of students gathering far off, stopped and stared at his brother in disbelief. "You what?"

"The sorting hat wanted to put me in Gryffindor, but I chose Slytherin."

"Why?"

"Honestly? I wanted to be like dad."

Caelum stroked an imaginary beard and nodded in approval. "Kudos, big brother. Truly. Oh, and-"

"Ow!" Aiden yelled as he rubbed his arm. Caelum had just punched him in it. "What was that for?"

"We could've been in Gryffindor together, you arse."

Aiden smiled and wrapped an arm around his brother's shoulders. "Well, would you look at that. My brother loves me."

Caelum scowled, although a smile was still leaking through. "Do not. I'd curse you in a heartbeat."

Aiden laughed. "Liar. Besides, it's not all bad. You've got James."

"Yeah, that's true. Speaking of him, I've got to find him after this. He said that he had something to show me. Something about a map…"

October 22nd, 2017

Nysa's father liked to take late afternoon naps on Sundays sometimes. When he did his sleeping place of choice was the living room couch. She liked to play with her toys next to him when he was asleep because sometimes he'd make the funniest noises.

However, instead of just playing, Nysa had other thoughts on her mind. She eventually set her toys aside and sat on her knees to look at her father. He was sleeping on his back, hands folded over his stomach, and legs crossed at the ankles.

"Daddy," Nysa said softly. He didn't answer, so she poked him in the side as she repeated, "Daddy."

"Yes, Nysa," he yawned. "What is it?"

Draco had expected a response, but he wasn't entirely surprised when he felt weight on his stomach and chest. He cracked one eye open and found two small grey ones staring back at him.

"Can I have some of the candy Aiden and Caelum sent home?"

Draco smiled. He glanced at the clock on the wall behind his daughter's head and saw that it nearly six.

"Mum is going to have dinner ready soon, you know."

"But mummy puts me to bed after dinner. I can't get candy then," Nysa pouted.

Yes, that was true. Nysa's bedtime was at eight and candy just before bed was a recipe for disaster. So was candy before dinner when his wife had a "no dessert before dinner policy."

Sadly, Draco was a huge sucker for the little girl who looked just like her mother sans the color of her hair and eyes.

"Can you be sneaky and quiet?"

"I don't know. Mummy says I have loud feet for a tiny person."

Draco laughed and tapped her on the nose. "And that, Nysa, is what magic is for."

Now Draco knew better than to make a child invisible, but Nysa wouldn't know any different. She slid down from off of him and onto the floor, eagerly waiting for "Operation Candy" to start.

"Alright," Draco swung his legs off the couch. "After I do this only I can see and hear you, okay?"

Nysa nodded ecstatically. "Okay!"

Draco took out his wand from his deceptively oversized pocket, did a few nonsense wand waving, and then grinned.

"Okay, you're good to go. Let's get started, shall we?"

Nysa squealed in delight and fled towards the kitchen. Hermione was right. She really did have loud steps for a small girl. Anyone could hear her coming from miles away. Once she got to the kitchen, Draco following closely behind, Hermione turned from her chef mastery at the stovetop to the little girl who had stomped her way in.

Nysa looked back at her father. "Are you sure mum can't see me?"

Hermione cocked a brow at Draco who whispered to Nysa, "I'm sure. The spell I used," he added for his wife's benefit, "is working perfectly."

Hermione picked up on his words and, feigning ignorance, headed straight for the refrigerator near where her daughter stood, picked out a head of lettuce and went to the sink to wash it off.

"See?" Draco reassured her.

Hermione kept her smile to herself and tried her best not to break character. It was a bit hard, though, when she heard Nysa ask her father how she was supposed to reach the candy when it was sitting on top of the refrigerator. She turned her head slightly to catch Draco's face, but he merely mouthed, "Just one piece."

With a roll of her eyes Hermione headed back to the refrigerator, stood on her toes a bit and tutted. "Draco, it's filthy up here. Can you take this down," she pointed to the candy jar, "so I can give it a good clean?"

"Of course," Draco replied. He went right to the refrigerator, took down the jar, and while Hermione (actually) cleaned what she could while balancing on her toes, Draco took out a licorice wand and gave it to Nysa.

"I got it! You can take the magic off now!" Nysa yelled as she ran from the kitchen.

Hermione laughed once her daughter was gone, taking the candy jar from Draco and placing it on the table. "I hope you take full responsibility for spoiling her."

"I'm weak to the women in this house," Draco admitted as he leaned on the kitchen counter, cupping his hands with his face. "Is that a problem?"

"Oh, well, when you put it that way," Hermione chuckled as she also leaned on the counter. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Anything you want," he happily answered. "I'm yours."

August 1st, 2018

Lucius was tired. Newspapers and journal writing could only keep you for so long while locked behind dark, brick walls. The same went for counting cracks in the ceiling and listening to ocean waves.

However, today was a new day. He felt optimistic and invigorated as he sat down on the pitiful excuse Azkaban called a bed and penned the last letter he hoped to send to his wife from this dismal place.

Narcissa,

My parole hearing is in two weeks.

Lucius xx

Author's note: At just over 5,500 words, longest chapter I've written for this story yet! I love this chapter because it's all the things that I wanted to write about, but wouldn't be able to make into a long enough chapter/could be unnecessary filler. So, this the drabbles chapter, not to mention filling you in on major events that's happened over the course of seven years.

So it doesn't come as a surprise, the last chapter will either be at 62 or 63. I haven't quite decided, but the end is nigh and I'm...happy yet sad at the same time.

-WP

Replies to guests

A: Yey! Here's your "more"! I hope that it met your expectations :)

Guest: "I like the way you've written Lucius..." THANK YOU! I don't write Lucius very much or give him large roles (or Narcissa for that matter), so I wanted to take this story to explore him and his character. You've seen tidbits of him here and there, but this story will wrap up with more of him. I can't wait to post it.

Guest1: "It's a GIRL!..." Hahaha YUP! Two boys already, you've got to throw a girl in there lol. I hope that you liked Nysa both baby and a little older as well as the rest of the glimpses of kids. It's kind of hard putting everything in, but I hope it worked well enough! Classes are over now, so I'm hoping to finish this before they start again lol. As for Ron: married Lavender and they have Rose and Hugo together :).

Guest2: "Aww their daughter..." Yes! She's here! And safe, thank goodness. And you got to read her as an older kid too. She's just too sweet for words. I just love Hermione and Draco (especially Draco) with kids. It's enough to give you diabetes I swear.