A/N: So, this is it! I hope you enjoyed it, I know I was happy to share it with you. This is not really centered around Draco/Hermione, it's more of them nudging the next generation along in the love prospect of things . . . you'll see. So tell me what you think in a review or something, and you'll be hearing more from me soon. Thanks, guys. :)

Happy reading!

Oh, and P.S. - I dedicate this this, and pretty much every other fanfiction I've posted on this site, to SiriusBlack345. You've stuck with me every since my first story, you were my first reviewer, and you're still sticking with me, and I cannot thank you enough or tell you how much that means to me. :)

Epilogue

Sixteen Years Later

Sixteen year old James Sirius Potter sat slouched down in the couch of his Uncle Blaise and Aunt Pansy's house, pouting, and for a good reason in his opinion. However, he would never admit to anyone exactly why he was so troubled. He glanced over where everyone was setting up for the Christmas dinner. His eyes fell on Emma Zabini and he found with frustration that he could not drag them away.

He'd had this issue before.

So, yeah, James fancied her. A bit. Ever since third year. But he didn't care that much. . . . Besides, she was too good for him. She was smarter than him - way smarter than him - and, though he kept his cool around her, it was pretty bloody intimidating. Emma was the spitting image of Aunt Pansy, with her black hair - though she grew her's out long, almost to her waist - and her dark green eyes. She also had wit that could almost match Aunt Hermione's - when Hermione'd been Emma's age, of course - and the only thing she seemed to have gotten from Uncle Blaise is her temper. Which James had to endure more than he'd like.

And he had a couple problems when it came to winning her over. 1., she sort of despised him and his practical jokes, 2. he was pretty sure Uncle Blaise would give him a 24 hour long lecture even if he did succeed, and 3., well, she had a boyfriend.

Damon Trifler. The captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team and pretty much James' biggest rival. He really did want to hex the guy into oblivion - and he was sure he could, if given the oppurtunity. He didn't know why Emma liked him - he picked on first years, he cheated with school and Quidditch, he hit on other girls - the list went on.

Of course, she wasn't exactly around when he did those things. Or she didn't notice.

James scowled and slouched deeper into the couch. Then, he caught Uncle Draco raising a curious eyebrow at him and he straightened, smiling innocently. Uncle Draco sighed and walked over to him from the dining room table. Despite the fact that Uncle Draco was only thirty-eight, he looked much older than he was. In fact, that went for all the adults in his life - he knew it was from the War that they had gone through. It reminded James to count his blessings.

"Alright, James?" Uncle Draco asked, sitting on the couch next to him. He had a trimmed mustache and beard, and James couldn't picture him any other way. It was like his trademark. When James saw pictures of him when he was younger and without the facial hair, it weirded him out.

To James, it went like this: trimmed mustache + trimmed beard + pale blonde hair + those annoying gray eyes that seemed to be able to pry anything out of you = Uncle Draco.

James sighed and his eyes unconsciously fell on Emma again, who was carefully setting the mashed potatoes down.

"Fine." he muttered.

"Uh-huh." he said, and James knew he didn't believe him. And knowing Uncle Draco, he probably knew what was wrong - he could read James like a book, although he didn't know how. In fact, Uncle Draco seemed to be able to read anyone like a book. When James asked Dad about it - or anyone for that matter - he just said, 'He's been through a lot'.

Uncle Draco sighed and took out a rather boring-looking book from his coat pocket, most obviously waiting for an explanation. But James was too stubborn for that - everyone knew the mighty will of James' stubborness, because everyone had had to endure it at some point.

Then, Emma dropped the plate of cranberries she'd been carrying to the table and muttered a curse that would probably make any of the adults, minus Uncle Draco, gasp and wash her tongue out. James chuckled lightly so she couldn't hear as she hurried out of the room to grab her wand. James glanced at Uncle Draco to make sure he wasn't looking and quickly took out his own wand, cleaning up the mess of cranberries and guiding the pieces of glass into the nearby trash bin.

When Emma came back and saw the mess was gone, she stopped short and frowned, looking around. James tried to look as innocent as possible, but he could feel her eyes on him. He glanced over and, to his surprise, saw that she was smiling. But then she regained her wits and rolled her eyes, striding from the room.

Uncle Draco glanced sideways at him, chuckling. James looked over at him, scowling.

"What are you laughing at?" he grumbled.

"How long has it been going on, James?" he asked in a knowing tone.

James knew he was cornered. It had happened to him before when it came to Uncle Draco.

"Since third year." he muttered.

"Third year?" Draco scoffed, shutting his book. "My God, boy, and you haven't done anything?"

James scowled again, trying his best to fight the creeping redness in his cheeks. "Well - she - I - she has a boyfriend! And she hates me!" he sputtered, trying to keep his voice down.

"James, you idiot," Draco snapped, rolling his eyes, "You think her having a boyfriend matters? Win her over!"

This is why James liked getting advise from Uncle Draco - and Aunt Hermione, for that matter. They didn't have children, so they didn't have that annoying parental protection thing. They talked to him as if they were friends.

"Yes, well, you forgot the part where I said she hates me!"

"Excuses," Draco insisted, "She doesn't even hate you. Didn't you see that smile you were responsible for? She just thinks you're annoying - which you are most certainly capable of."

"You're not exactly aiding my ego here."

"Good, it needs to be taken down a notch."

"You know, you're not helping whatsoever."

He sighed. "Yes, alright, I'm sorry. Look, maybe you're so caught up in bantering with her and all that rubbish and trying to outdo her boyfriend, that that's all she sees you as."

"Sees me as what?" James scoffed.

He looked at him in mock-sadness and James felt the wave of teasing coming. Draco raised a hand sympathetically and canted his head. "An arse."

"Oh, come off it!" James exclaimed, rolling his eyes.

Draco shrugged and opened his book back up, muttering, "It's true."

"Oh, you just - you're the arse!" he stammered indignantly.

"Takes one to know one, my boy."

James slouched in his seat again, accepting his defeat grudgingly with a pout. After a moment, he found new resolve as Emma walked out again, carefully setting the napkins down next to each plate as Aunt Hermione set out the silverware.

He leaned over to murmur, "Well, wouldn't you be a little intimidated in asking a girl out who was a whole lot smarter than you, and pretty much a better person all around?"

Draco snorted. "Well, I would know everything about that, wouldn't I? Hermione was the top of our class, a member of the Golden Trio, and had a heart of gold - still does," he murmured, shaking his head as he watched his wife. "She took me in when no one else would - and she had every reason to hate me. Wouldn't be surprised if she did at some points."

James frowned. "You know, I never really heard the story of how you and Aunt Hermione fell in love."

"Oh-ho, now, that is a story for another time, my boy," Draco chuckled, closing his book again. "Let's just focus on you and that lovely lady over there. Now, you're sure she loves her boyfriend?"

"Well, I don't know about love, but - "

"Good, good, there's no love. So the boyfriend shouldn't be a problem - "

James groaned in frustration. "Uncle Draco, that is a problem! We're not all charming and handsome like you, you know!"

"Oh, James, stop acting like an insecure woman - "

"What is this, then?" Aunt Hermione asked, walking over to them with a look that said, 'I heard that last bit and I'm not exactly happy about it'.

Draco grinned at his wife as she sat down on the other side of James. "Oh, nothing, dear, just some love advice."
"Oh, yes, I could tell," she said, pursing her lips as Draco. She turned her attention to James. "What, is this about Emma then?"

James gaped at them. "Am I really that obvious?" he cried.

Hermione smiled and patted his hand. "No, not so much, dear, I'm just a woman. And Draco, well, he's . . . you know."

James smirked at Draco, who raised his eyebrows at his wife. "I'm what?" he scoffed.

"Oh, nothing," she said breezily - they both knew it was payback for his 'insecure woman' comment. "Now, James, all you need to do is act nicer towards her. I've seen the way you two argue."

"But she - "

"Nope, I don't want to hear it," she said, cutting him off cleanly. "You fancy her?"

James nodded dejectedly.

"Then you must woo her. Wooing does not include arguing. Bantering - perhaps. But not arguing."

"Oh, yes, you would know." Draco muttered and she sent him a challenging gaze.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, nothing." he mimicked her, smiling sweetly.

"You're pathetic."

"You're absurd."

"You're infuriating."

"You're obnoxious."

James rolled his eyes and grunted as he stood, leaving nothing between the lovely couple. He glanced back and they barely noticed him walking away. James had to admit - they really were perfect for each other. In a different way than his lovey-dovey parents, though.

James peeked into the kitchen and, speaking of, saw his Mum and Dad talking to Aunt Pansy, Uncle Blaise and Uncle Ron. As Mum laughed about something, James caught his Dad gazing at her with a slight smile as he inconspicuously slid his hand over hers on the counter. Mum looked at him with a smile and James looked away before they did something that would scar him. As he started off, he ran right into his little brother and sister, Albus (fifth year) and Lily (fourth year), who were snickering as they scampered along - that is, until they ran into James.

They straightened up immeidately, hiding something behind their backs.

"Oh, hey, James," Albus said nonchalantly. "We were just, uh - "

James rolled his eyes. "Do you realize who you are talking to? I am a pranster extraordinaire, and you are trying to fool me? Now, show me the goods."

They both sighed and revealed two pies, one apple and one pumpkin. James rolled his eyes again.

"Wow, very inconspicuous, that's probably - "

"We replaced them with two other joke pies from Uncle Fred and Uncle George's joke shop." Lily explained, smirking.

"Only from the best." Albus added with a grin.

James frowned appreciatively. "Hm. Not bad, little ones. Now, hurry and hide them, I'll cover for you."

Then, they shared a couple sneaky high fives and checked around for people (James was almost sure he saw Uncle Draco shake his head and roll his eyes from the couch), acting goofy all the while. His two younger siblings sneaked the pies back to a place where they could eat them later, James watching them all the while.

"You Potters are so predictable."

James let out a defeated breath and closed his eyes, turning. He opened them to find Emma standing there, her arms crossed in a victorious manner. Wooing does not include arguing. Bantering - perhaps. But not arguing.

James shrugged. "In the blood."

She smirked and nodded, starting to go after Lily and Al. James stepped in front of her. "Not so fast, Zabini. My little brother and sister have just started their first prank, and I'm afraid I cannot let you ruin that." Whether I'm supposed to 'woo' you or not, he added silently.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and raised her eyebrows. "Yeah? How are you going to stop me?"

James shrugged. "Whatever I have to do, I suppose."

She pursed her lips and tried to get by again, but he stepped in her path. She sidestepped the other way, but he blocked her again. She stopped and looked at him exasperatedly.

"Why do you have to ruin all the fun, Zabini? I mean, my God, you are a teenager." James scoffed.

She sighed, searching his eyes for a moment. "Fine. But I have a reputation to keep up if I want to become Head Girl, Potter, so no one hears about this."

He grinned. "Your secret's safe with me."

"I'm sure it is." she muttered, turning and walking the way she came.

James' eyes followed her until she was out of sight. Then, his eyes fell on Uncle Draco who was watching him with a raised eyebrow over the couch. He smirked when they caught each others gaze and James rolled his eyes.

Arrogant little -

"James," Mum said, sticking her head out from the kitchen, "Go freshen up before dinner - and find your brother and sister. They looked like they were up to no good last time I saw them."

"I had absolutely nothing to do with that." James offered, not very convincingly.

Mum gave him a look, pursing her lips. "Yes, I'm sure you didn't."

XXX

About thirty minutes after dinner, the adults were getting desert ready (little did they know about the trick pies that were timed to explode confetti in about half an hour) as the kids milled around, entertaining themselves in various ways. James lounged on the couch again, playing around with the first snitch he'd ever caught. (He'd had to bribe Madam Hooch pretty heavily to let him keep it). He released it, then caught it again, something that Dad had told him his Dad, James grandfather and namesake, had used to do.

James frowned slightly. Thinking about his granddad always troubled him. Dad said he saw a lot of the original James Potter in him, although Dad had never known him either. God, James really wish he could've met him (and his grandmum, of course) - being named after someone and never actually knowing them seemed to leave a sort of empty spot in you. But he supposed it was something he'd have to live with. Dad had to live without a father, so James could live without a grandfather. James would just have to content himself with the stories he heard and the trophies that were displayed in the Hogwarts Trophy Room - now the only remnants of who his namesake was. And he also had Grandma and Grandpa Weasley, who were grandparent-y enough for him.

James shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts and picked himself up from the couch. He whistled as he walked down to his room, tossing the now-wingless snitch up and down. Then, suddenly, the snitch sprouted its wings and zoomed ahead of him down the hallway and to the left.

"God damn snitch." he muttered, sighing and racing after it.

He caught sight of it flit into the last room on the left and he grumbled, running down the hall and into the room and -

He hadn't realized it was Emma's room she was staying in - usually it was just a guest room. And there she was, sitting on her bed clutching a letter, her head down. She was crying.

James forgot about the snitch, his face sobering as he caught sight of one of the tears falling from her eye to the page. Her head snapped up and she wiped her tears away hastily. But he already saw.

"Emma?" he murmured.

"What?" she asked, trying to sound like she was normal, sliding the letter behind her on the bed.

"Er - sorry, my snitch just - "

"Here." she muttered, picking it up from where it landed on the bed and handing it to him, not meeting his eyes.

He slowly took it from her, contemplating the right thing to do. "Are . . . you okay?" he asked.

She finally met his eyes and for a long moment she just kept them there, seeming to try and hold back tears. But when her eyes starting to well up again, she seemed humliated and ducked her head again.

"Yes."

"You're a terrible liar," he noted, but she didn't respond. He paused. "What's wrong?"

She looked back up at him and just let her tears fall. He knew she was wondering whether she should really tell him. Something on his face must've looked convincing enough, because she then confessed, "It's Damon," she sighed, putting the letter aside to occupy herself with something and not meeting his eyes. "Er, it turns out that he's found someone new over Christmas break and is ready to move on from me."

James had an overwhelming urge to tell her just what he thought of that complete shithead, but instead, he gently sat on the couch next to her, taking the letter and crumpling it in his hand.

Her head snapped toward his hand and he studied her carefully as he set it aside.

"You don't need him, Em," he murmured, "You're better than him. And if you don't know that, you're mad."

"It was just so long that we'd been together," she whispered, then looked up at him, almost desperately. "I know what you think of him, James, but he wasn't always like that, you have to know - "

"But it doesn't matter, Emma," he said, furrowing his brow. "If you're caught up in what he used to be, you'll never see him for what he is now. He's a pathetic, unintelligent, ignorant, bullying douche bag, and you are too good for him."

She lifted her brilliant green eyes to him and her brow was slightly creased. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

He smiled and put his arm around her. "If you didn't know I have your back, I should've pranked you properly a long time ago."

She snorted. "What are you talking about? You always prank me."

"You call that pranking? You should've seen Trifler the week before the Slytherin-Gryffindor game. We'd permanently colored his skin red and gold, and he had to go to Madam Pomfrey to get it properly removed." he snickered.

She gasped. "That was you?" she laughed, "I only saw a glimpse of him in the hospital wing, but he wouldn't let me really look at him."

They laughed together for a second before he got an idea. He glanced at her.

"You know what you need?" he asked, standing. She stood with him, and he could tell she was in a much better mood. Her eyes were dry and she even looked excited for what he was about to say.

"What?"

He smirked. "Remember those pies?"

She laughed and he flicked his head to the door. "Let's go."

He started towards the door, but she lightly touched his hand. "James?"

He turned expectantly, and she suddenly stepped forward, lightly pressing her lips to his. He was taken aback but didn't pull away, of course - if he ever dreamed to kiss Emma Zabini, it was always him to her, not the other way around.

She leaned back. "Thank you." she whispered.

He grinned and took her hand. "C'mon."

XXX

And so him, Emma, Lily and Albus hid out in the back hallway and ate the pies out of the plates with spoons, laughing as they joked around with each other. But then, in the middle of their delicious dessert, they heard a BOOM from somewhere, presumably the kitchen, and followed shortly by a -

"KIDS! IN THE KITCHEN, NOW!"

They all snickered despite themselves, the rush of doing something they shouldn't making the situation even funnier than it was. And then they shuffled towards the kitchen, through the living room where they unknowingly passed Hermione and Draco, who were perched on the couch again, watching the kids with amusement as they passed through.

Then, they both noticed the most wonderful thing. Emma was walking slightly ahead of James, but she let her hand fall behind and he half-smiled softly, brushing his own fingertips to hers in the subtlest manner.

As they entered the kitchen to face their fate, Hermione turned her head to Draco.

"Well, it looks like we did good, then." she said happily.

"My God, the boy gets things done quickly." Draco noted lightly, frowning appreciatively.

"All the more power to him, I say." she said, snuggling closer to her husband.

"I agree, love." he murmured, kissing the top of her head.

Because everyone deserved a love like the one we have, he added in his head - but since the moment seemed to pass, he simply let it linger in his head, perfectly content with the fact that he didn't doubt it for a second.