A/N: It's over and I have Rowan to thank not only for her patient beta work, but for her endless support. She's the mummy-beta to so many, and inspires all who meet her with her enthusiasm and affability. She is richly deserving of all her nominations she has received for the Quibbler awards.

I disclaim.

EPILOGUE

Ginny tilts her head to the side, trying to ease the crick in her neck from sitting so long in one position. Whenever she paints the hours seem to pass without her realising it. She gazes out the window of the gallery, watching the last of the late evening shoppers in Diagon Alley as they scurry home.

She sighs as she realises how late it is and that she hasn't seen or spoken to Draco since early this morning. He will be home late tonight due to a meeting and she is in no hurry to get home if he isn't there yet. She picks up the sketchpad she has been painting from and starts to leaf through the pages.

The first sketch, done almost four years ago, was one that always caused her a little tremor. At the time she had made the drawing the tremor had been fear based. But now that tremor was based on her happiness at what that drawing had brought about in her life. The little girl holding her doll in fear was a little girl no longer. The little dragon doll had become her real life Dragon.

Draco had asked her permission many times to use that image of the little girl holding her dragon doll so tightly as a tattoo for him, but she always declined. She wasn't sure that she wanted to see that forlorn little girl on his back for the rest of her life. She hoped that someday she might draw a more mature version of herself showing how much she loved him and relied upon his strength.

The next few sketches show how things progressed over the months after what she likes to call 'The Release'. She had gotten rid of the vestiges of Tom Riddle that fateful day, and she had never looked back.

Ginny knew that if it had not been for Draco she might still be trapped. She had been so close to lost when Draco found her that Ginny knew she might have gone mad if not for him coming into her life.

The sketch of Professor Snape, or Uncle Severus as she now calls him, makes her giggle.

Luna marched up to his desk in class and placed a jar in front of him. When the Potions Master raised his eyebrow in inquiry she simply stated, "That's the Glargenshmieck blood I told you about. Now you can bottle fame much easier." Luna spoke as if she were discussing what she might be having for lunch later. "It also works well as an aphrodisiac enhancement, in case you weren't already aware of that fact."

Ginny was having a difficult time holding back her snort of laughter, and most of the class had quickly become very interested in their notes, as Luna went back to her seat grinning happily. She turned to Ginny and gave a wink.

That night Ginny served detention with Luna and they happily cleaned cauldrons and giggled as Snape glared at them both without speaking the entire two hours.

When she went back to her dorm later that night, she sketched the look of bewilderment mixed with what Ginny judged to be secret shame that had been upon Snape's face when Luna announced the special quality of the creature's blood she had presented him with earlier in the day.

A few sketches later and Ginny has tears in her eyes; that Christmas holiday in her sixth year was the best one she ever had.

Smiling vaguely, she recollects how that first time had been awkward- yet magical, for lack of better terminology. Their second time, later that night, was the first of many 'Longbottoms' in that particular potion; that night she and Draco had begun using the 'Longbottom' Snapeism- once used by the Potions Master to describe the inevitable explosions that would happen in the Potions lab when Neville would be working.

She giggles to herself thinking of what Uncle Severus might do if he discovered his Snapeism was being used for sexual innuendo for the explosive climaxes that were often shared between her and Draco.

The next sketch was done later that spring, on the day that she and Draco had met Blaise and Luna by the lake, and they had spent the afternoon talking about their plans for the future.

The sun hanging low in the horizon had cast shadows upon the group, shadows that reflected the sombre thoughts of being apart from their partners for a whole year. The shading of the setting sun gave that piece a particularly solemn feeling.

Ginny recalls the events that happened in that year and reflects at how well the Slytherins had done at keeping their plans.

During that year Blaise, and therefore Draco, made their own fortunes; Draco had invested heavily in Blaise's company from the beginning and had made quite a large sum in return for his faith in Blaise and his invention.

Blaise had invented a Portkey that could be programmed to go between two specific points and had unlimited trips.

The benefit for the user was always having a Portkey ready to get back and forth from their regular destinations. Draco had given his seal of approval stating that, "Thank Merlin I no longer get handed an old boot or used piece of silverware after waiting in queue so that I can get back to my home every night."

The Ministry of Magic signed a huge contract with Blaise's company that he could live off comfortably for life if he wished.

In addition, Blaise was free to sell his products to individuals or companies other than the Ministry, as long as his clients were cleared by the Department of Magical Transportation. Blaise could charge high fees if any of these was difficult to program.

Her next sketch is the building she is now in; her own art house.

Ginny recalls the day Draco had come to take her on a Hogsmeade weekend. They had lunch at The Three Broomsticks, and upon leaving he had started walking towards the residential area of the village.

"Where are we going Draco?"

"You'll see. It's a surprise that we will both enjoy."

Ginny frowned at the back of the platinum head. Draco knew she didn't mind surprises, but she had little patience if she had to wait for one.

Soon enough though, they rounded a corner to a tidy cul-de-sac of small but elegant looking houses. She grabbed his hand and asked him again where they were going.

"We're here." Draco turned up a path lined with lilies to a two story house with an enclosed veranda, leading to a set of striking double doors.

"Welcome to Malfoy Minor."

Ginny laughed at his play on the obviously much smaller scale house to the Wiltshire Estate of Malfoy Manor.

They entered and began touring the house, and Ginny discovered it was not at all small once you were inside. It was enchanted to appear quaint on the outside, but still held a modest eight bedrooms, seven baths, two drawing rooms, a study, a game and entertainment room, and an indoor pool with a hot tub. The kitchen was large and airy and the master bedroom had a sitting room, a study and two attached bathrooms.

The more Ginny saw of the house the more she fell in love with it. After the tour Draco showed her a hidden room on the first floor. Inside was a small table about four feet high, and in the centre was one of Blaise's Portkeys.

"Are you ready to go?" Draco looked at Ginny like it was Christmas morning and he couldn't wait to get to the tree.

"Where are we going, Draco?"

"To the place that Blaise's Portkey invention helped me get for you."

Ginny was confused, as she had thought the house was the surprise.

"Come on. Hold my hand and we'll touch the key at the same time."

Ginny was too excited at all she had already seen to protest. She looked at him and they touched at the same time. She felt the pull of the Portkey and within seconds felt herself land rather nicely at the same table as she had just been at, but in a different room.

"Blaise's new Portkeys are wicked! I didn't even feel sick or dizzy, or have to pick myself up off the floor." Ginny had always hated Portkeys, as they left you disoriented and usually sprawled on the ground feeling humiliated.

Draco silently took her hand and led her out of the small room.

They were in what resembled a very clean warehouse. The room was large, square, and had extremely high ceilings. It was partitioned into one large space with two smaller rooms to the side. What made Ginny gasp was that in one of the rooms was a fully equipped art studio. It had everything necessary for all types of mediums and everything was of the highest quality.

Draco had immediately gasped for air, as the breath was being squeezed out of him by a crying redhead.

"Oh, Draco. It's too wonderful. I can't wait to start working here."

Ginny had touched and examined all of the lovely paints, easels, sculpting tables and various materials throughout the room.

"The other small room will be for classes if you choose to teach." Draco had tried to think of everything that would bring happiness to the one he loved.

"What will be in the big room?"

Draco hugged her from behind and said, "That's also yours. Where else do you think you're going to be showing off all of your work? This is all yours, if you want it."

"Are you crazy? Of course I want it. You know art is my life now. I told you I turned down that offer from the Harpies. I don't want to be a professional Quidditch player; that takes all the fun out of playing."

Draco breathed a silent sigh of relief.

He knew what she had told him, but Draco had still been afraid Ginny might change her mind; that would mean long hours and days apart, and he didn't want to deal with that.

"You just have to think of a name for it. But you have time, as you won't be able to come here until you've graduated."

The sketch of their house in Hogsmeade brings a huge smile to her face. This was the house that bonded Molly and Narcissa together as the ordained matchmakers. They both wanted grandbabies and both thoroughly agreed that Draco and Ginny were perfect for each other. They campaigned relentlessly once Draco and Ginny moved in together to have them married.

Narcissa would smirk and Draco would scowl at her when Ginny would win an argument in front of his mother. She knew that though his Malfoy pride might suffer a little, his Black family heart cherished his girlfriend with the strength to fight for what she believed in; even if that fight was against him. Sometimes he let her win just to see that sexy 'I told you so' look on her face.

Once, after a particularly brutal visit from Molly where she practically had Ginny caving in to her wishes for marriage for her and Draco, Draco knew they needed to solidify their future plans.

"Ginny, love. Maybe your mum is right. Do we need to get married to prove we'll be together forever? Would it make you feel better?" Draco was nervous as he knew he wanted to spend his life with Ginny, but eighteen was so young to get married.

"Draco, I don't want to get married and make babies."

Though Draco had just been thinking he wasn't ready for marriage, he definitely wasn't ready to think that Ginny didn't want a family with him.

He knew that eventually she would be a Malfoy, but now his heart was beating rapidly thinking she didn't want the same.

His face must have reflected his shock, for she instantly recanted. "No, Draco. I meant I don't want these things right now. I just graduated and want to start the art gallery. How can I do that if I become a baby factory?"

Draco was stiff with tension as he watched her. He wanted children eventually but what were Ginny's plans?

"Look, I'm just not old enough to think about starting a family. Is that okay with you?" Ginny looked to Draco with apprehension at what he might be thinking. "I want to get to know every part of you. I want to spend the years of my youth doing youthful things. I've already had to grow up too quickly in this war-torn society. I want to enjoy the peace with you."

Draco released the breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. "Thank Merlin, Ginny. I was afraid you might want to start filling your own Burrow straight out of school like your mum. I'm not ready to become a father yet either. But I definitely want you as the mum when I am ready for a family."

Ginny looked piercingly into his eyes as if gauging exactly what the implication of that meant. "When do you see yourself ready? How big a family do you want?"

Draco knew his answer could turn this to an ugly situation if he didn't answer carefully. "Well, I want to make sure my companies can run themselves and that I'm financially independent of the Malfoy fortune in case that ever turns sour. As far as kids, I'd like to have more than one but less than four. After about ten years or so, I guess."

Ginny looked nonplussed and Draco prepared himself for a flare up. She simply kissed him lovingly, placed her head against his heart and spoke softly. "You know, I love you because you always seem to understand what I need. Having six brothers cured any need for a large family I might have ever harboured, and by the time I'm thirty or so I should be ready to settle down and take on the Malfoy name. But I won't live without you in the meantime."

"Ginny, love. This last year has been torture. I can't live without you anymore."

The next set of sketches softened Ginny's heart, and were the only thing to give pause to her conviction to wait another five or six years to start their family. The sight of beautiful, cherubic, Zeus Zanebono Zabini.

Her favourite sketch in this series is a colour sketch that shows just how special Luna and Blaise's son is.

Little Zeus was cradled in Draco's arms, sleeping. It was the first time Draco held his godson and he had just finished lecturing Blaise on his cruel choice of names for the child. Draco insisted he was destined to be a Hufflepuff with the curse of triple Z's.

"Who the hell names their kid Zeus Zanebono? What does that mean? 'Please torture me endlessly?'"

Blaise laughed at his friend. "One would think you cared about the 'little spawn' as you so lovingly called him. His names are quite powerful and I'm sure will provide him all the protection he needs against the Nargles."

Blaise reached over and softly stroked his son as he slept on in Draco's embrace. The babe's toffee coloured skin blended perfectly with his soft, glossy and slightly curly black hair. The tones of his skin brought out the golden undertones of Draco's skin, and the two looked as if they belonged seated on the thrones of Olympus where Zeus' namesake presided.

"We're thinking to call him Zane. In Italian Zanebono is 'the good one' so we figured calling him that -rather than Lord of Sky and Thunder- will keep him on a straight track."

Blaise looked across the room to where his wife sat talking to Ginny and smiled. "Luna is convinced I am too conceited and this trait may carry on to the tyke if we call him a lordly name."

Draco raised a sceptical brow in reply, looking down to the child in his arms so his father did not see him smirking at how soft the snake had become since starting his family. Draco picked up the tiny fist of Zane and wondered how he would change when he got a 'little spawn' of his own.

Ginny looks now upon the portrait she's working on; the Zabini family portrait. She admires the work and is starting to think this may be one of the best consignment pieces she's ever done.

Sitting on a deep green loveseat are Blaise and Luna, resting comfortably snuggled together. Luna is large with pregnancy and Blaise is holding two year old Zane in his arms. Ginny knows this is a true portrayal of what this growing family really is, as the Zabini heir is reaching for something over Blaise's shoulders in concentration; Luna swears he sees Nargles and is always trying to catch them.

Ginny loves the colour of the boy's eyes, an exotic blend of green-gold speckled with Luna's cornflower blue. This boy will no doubt be the downfall of many a heart at Hogwart's when he comes of age to attend.

Caught up in her admiration of the Zabini family unit and the love and acceptance prevalent there, she doesn't hear Draco come up behind her.

When a pair of warm arms embraces her from behind she jumps a little.

"Mmm, sorry love; couldn't help myself. When I see you looking so enamoured of familial life I just want to practice making babies." Giving her a kiss on the top of her head, he releases Ginny and steps around in front of her.

Ginny looks up at the future father of her children and knows she can wait a few more years. She can be an auntie for now and practice making babies with Draco long into the night without worrying about waking the children.

"Let's go home, love. That meeting has me hungry and ready for a long soak in the hot tub." Draco reaches out his hand to draw Ginny up and into his arms again.

"How did the meeting go? Did you reach an agreement with your difficult client?" Ginny is proud of the business man Draco has become. He is building his own company bit by bit, and not relying on the fortune previously created by his ancestors. He wants to live his life independent of the Malfoy fortunes that were made many times at the expense of the happiness of others.

"You are now holding the silent partner of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Your brother is a shrewd business man for being such a prankster."

Ginny grins. "Yes, George has always been the brains of the business. He takes it very seriously these days, and leaves most of the inventing to his various employees and nieces and nephews."

Ginny stands up on her toes and gives Draco a lingering kiss. "Let's go home. Malfoy Minor awaits the arrival of its master."

"Yes. I'm ready for dinner, a long soak, and then I'm going to show you just who your master is, Mrs. Future Malfoy." His kiss is full of love, passion and enough strength to carry them through their life together. Tomorrow he plans on proposing to Ginny after the family dinner at the Burrow, and he feels assured she will accept.

As he begins to draw her away, Ginny turns and winks at the Zabini portrait.

"We'll see who the master is tonight," she says, as he leads her by the hand. "I believe it's my turn; although I may have to cleanse you of any Nargles first."

Draco throws her over his shoulder and heads for the Portkey room. "We'll see who needs Nargle taming," he murmurs, and gives a healthy smack on her backside as Ginny giggles.

Fin