Baaad bitchy! Very baad! Okay, I left you guys hanging (again!). So sorry! To appease your anger (and intense desire to slaughter me brutally), I'm posting the next chapter. I'll be posting an epilogue and this story will be completed. After this, I'd concentrate on one-shots as I seem to be terrible in trying to sustain a multi- chaptered story. Again, bear with the cheesy lines! It was required.

IX. NO REGRETS

The silent ripples of the lake as it reflected the setting of the sun was such an inviting scene that two old best friends found difficult to resist.

Despite the maturity of his age, Ron still laughs like that eighteen-year-old lanky boy in Seventh Year. "Yeah, that was some trick, 'Mione!" He gurgled boyishly at the memory. "Oh, remember that time when you dumped Malfoy head first in this lake, stark naked?"

The a-few-months-shy-to-thirty-six-years-of-age, five-months pregnant Hermione laughed spectacularly at the image of her then-dense husband back in Sixth year. I think I fell for his buns back then.

It was a late afternoon in Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione decided to escape the clamor of their former classmates in the castle and spend some time reminiscing their school days by the lake.

Ron squeezed her hand affectionately. "We had such great times by this lake, didn't we?"

At his words, Hermione suddenly felt consumed by shame. They had great times by the lake alright. Eighteen years ago, she broke Ron's heart right here in this very spot by the lake when he found her in Draco's arms.

She looked away. It was a terrible memory, one that she had always hoped to be erased for all eternity. The anger- flushed face of Ron betrayed by the tears brimming in his eyes had haunted her. Years of marriage to Draco may have decreased the cruelty of that moment (not to mention the eventual reconciliation of her husband and her ex- boyfriend) but she was still plagued with guilt.

She had been happy with Draco, but the birth of the twins resurrected her paranoia of Fate's atonement on her treachery. She felt that the twins bore the burden of her betrayal, that they were born squibs to avenge Ron.

Sick.

Ron looked at her silenced features. "You're not still sore about that, are you? It's been ages, 'Mione!"

"I had hurt you, Ron! I've been a horrible..," Friend? Girlfriend? "...person back then."

Ron gave her hand another affectionate squeeze. "Like I said, it has been ages ago! Seeing Luna and Rhyss today, that scene had made perfect sense." He held her face, his eyes locked into hers. "It was meant to happen, Hermione. All those hurtful things in the past led me to Luna and Rhyss and you to Malfoy and…" He smiled at her swollen belly. "…your growing brood."

"I believe that's my wife, Weasley."

Ron gave a goofy grin at Draco who stood a couple of feet from where he and Hermione sat. "As you remind me so often, Malfoy." He stood up, gave Hermione a quick peck on her head. ""I'd better check on Luna. Pregnancy makes her enthusiastic on experimenting on charms. I might find her sporting a tail or something." After a warm clap on Draco's shoulder, he left.

Draco joined his wife by the lake, taking the place Ron vacated beside her.

"Hello, Mr. Malfoy."

"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy."

He laced his hand on hers. "Craig giving you a hard time?"

She smiled as she ran a free hand on her belly. "Not really. He's used to Ron's flirting." At Draco's scowl, she giggled. "You can't really think Ron would make a move on a five- month pregnant woman?"

"He was your ex- boyfriend."

"He's happily married!"

"And so are you."

"Something I'm unlikely to forget."

Draco smiled at his wife before returning his gaze at the lake. After a moment of silence, Hermione whispered. "You saw her this afternoon, didn't you?"

"Who?"

"The younger me."

To say that Draco was surprised was an understatement. He was flabbergasted. "You knew?"

Hermione inched closer to her husband and rested her head on his chest. "Of course. It was I you saw there. Younger, but all the same, it was me."

Draco draped an arm around her. "Why didn't you tell me that you remembered? I could've brought you there to see her."

Hermione let out a chuckle. "See my younger self? That sounds rather ridiculous, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Draco answered with a laugh.

Another moment of silence ensued.

"I love you, Hermione Malfoy."

Hermione craned her neck to look up at him. "Hmm?"

He kissed her forehead. "I love you. I never regretted anything that had led us to what we are right now, even having squibs for children." He breathed on her tresses. "No regrets, love. I'll re- live the last 18 years and still choose you. I'd still choose our children to be the next generation of Malfoys and would still have Prue and Philippe despite of their condition."

"Prue and Philippe aren't your punishment, Hermione," he continued. "They were born to us because fate knew we would be the best parents for them."

"But, Ron is…"

He shushed her. "…very happy where he is right now, husband to Luna and father to Rhyss and the next baby. Let go of the guilt, Hermione. Can't you see we're living the 'happily ever after' part?"

"You're sure you have no regrets married to a muggle- born like me?" Hermione asked.

"I wouldn't prefer to have it in any other way."

"Good," Hermione said with a smile. Draco held her tighter.

"Another thing I remembered..." Hermione started.

"What?" Draco wore a questioning look.

Mrs. Malfoy swatted her husband's head lightly. "Before we left through that crystal ball, you took Zoë and the twins for a ride in a broomstick, didn't you?"

"Err…"

"And you taught Elliott the 'Levicorpus' and told him to use it on Marcus!"

Draco was adamant. "That idiot is scheming on my innocent daughter!"

Hermione laughed at her husband. "Well, Mr. Malfoy, a family suits you perfectly."