Ron pulled out of the pensieve, rubbing his forehead gently. Harry had copied the original pensieve and demanded that he look at all the memories before he made any judgements about Hermione's marriage to Malfoy.
He winced as he thought over how he had once been. He was an annoying brat back then, so confident that he would get what he wanted. But it was not so. He would have to remember to apologise to Hermione for being such a clingy twit. "Lav! I'm going to talk to Hermione and Malfoy!"
"Woah wait just a moment, mister!" Lavender came rushing through the door, a stern look on her face. "You are doing no such thing, Ronald! Don't be such an idiot! You have no self control! The moment you get there, you'll explode! I am not trusting you to go on your own!"
Ron groaned, before giving in to his wife. "Alright, I'll get Ginny to go with me! Happy?" He asked.
Lavender gave him a nod and a quick kiss. "Don't miss dinner again. I love you."
The red-head blushed. "I love you too." With a small pop, he was gone.
Ginny shrieked as a pop interrupted her as she read 'The Secret Garden'. "Ronald Weasley! You have no right to scare me like that!" Ron grinned sheepishly before shrugging and hugging his sister.
"Sorry, sis. Any food?" He asked, pulling open her fridge and searching through it.
Ginny couldn't help but stare blankly at her brother. "Honestly, I'm starting to think that Lav starves you! Get your head out of my fridge and tell me to what I owe this delightful visit, Mr I-Can't-Control-My-Actions." She said, still upset at his outburst at her a few days before.
"Well that's why I came. I want to apologise to Malfoy and Hermione for bursting at them and to tell them that I've been going through the pensieve and I'm feeling bad for the way I reacted then and now. But Lav said that she didn't trust me on my own. So I told her I'd ask you to come with me."
Ginny squealed with glee. "Of course! Let me change and write a note to Harry before we go!"
Ron was pacing in front of the stairs that led to the top level of the Potter Residence. "GINNY! IT'S BEEN ALMOST AN HOUR! COME ON!" He stared as his sister came rushing down looking very well dressed in a pair of black slacks and the blouse that she had bought on her last shopping trip with Hermione. "What the hell? This isn't a pageant!"
Ginny merely glared at him, scribbling a quick note for Harry. "Shut up. Let's go" Two pops announced their departure.
Draco growled with frustration as Jayden and Aaliyah burst into the room he shared with Hermione. He had been quite happily holding Hermione close to him when the pair raced in. "DADDY! MUMMY! UP TIME!" They screamed, pulling the covers off their parents.
"Good thing nothing happened last night." Draco muttered into his wife's ears before complying to his children's wishes. Hermione giggled softly before following Draco out of bed. "I'm going to check on Liam!"
Hermione laughed, quickly showering and changing with the hopes that the two twins wouldn't cause too much havoc in her absence. "RACE YOU TO THE KITCHEN, MUM!" She laughed as little Jayden challenged her.
Picking Ali up, she raced forward picking Jay up in her arms before he could even reach the stairs. With both of the children in her arms, she made her way down the stairs, twirling into the kitchen. "I'd say that was a tie, Mister." She said as the boy laughed gleefully. Within minutes, food was on the table and the two had almost dived for it.
Draco came into the kitchen, Liam playing with his father's hair. At the sight of his mother, he screwed up his face and held his arms out in her direction. Giggling lightly Hermione took him in her arms, twirling around the room happily. "He's such a mummy's boy."
Draco smiled before taking the child from her and placing him in his seat before putting a small bowl of baby food in front of the child. Liam picked up the spoon and began to try to get a spoonful of food. It would entertain him for the time being.
With the three children taken care of, he spun to face his wife who was leaning against the kitchen counter, watching him with adoration. He leaned against her, pressing her into the counter before kissing her lightly. "I love you, you know?" Hermione smiled, pulling him to her for another kiss.
Draco smirked against her lips, running his tongue along her bottom lip. Hermione couldn't help but think of how similar this was to the old days. "EW! DADDY'S PUTTING HIS TONGUE IN MUMMY'S MOUTH AGAIN!" Draco quickly moved off Hermione, staring guiltily at the disgusted boy.
Ruffling the boy's hair, he leant down to be eye to eye with him. "Trust me son, when you're older you'll be trying to do that to every girl you see." Hermione gaped as her son scowled heavily at his father.
"DRACO!" She scolded horrified before slapping him on the back of his head. Draco just laughed and made to defend himself when the doorbell rang loudly. They froze at the sound. With a sigh, Draco walked to the door sending a smile to his wife.
He pulled open the door. All he saw was a flash of red before a force made him stumble slightly. "Draco! You're okay!" Ginny exclaimed wrapping him in a hug. "You gave us all such a fright!"
Hermione was in the kitchen when she heard a familiar voice. "Ginny!" She exclaimed rushing to the doorway of the kitchen. The red-head screeched with joy before crashing into her closest friend with a hug. Hermione couldn't help but cry at the joy of having her closest friend next to her again. "I'm so sorry, Gin! I'm just so sorry!" Ginny shook her head before hugging her again. Draco couldn't help but smile.
"Ahem." The three spun to the door where Ron was standing, his hands in his pockets and a sheepish smile playing on his lips. Draco growled, his eyes darkening with anger at the memory of the Weasley's last visit. "I know that I was really rash last time I came here but I wanted to say that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted like that before hearing your story. I've been going through the pensieve though I'm not finished and I'm sorry for the way I acted the other day. And I'm really sorry for the way I acted in our seventh year. Can you forgive me?" He said quickly but meaningfully.
Hermione grinned before rushing to embrace her friend. "THANK YOU!" She exclaimed in his ear, making him wince before he returned her embrace.
She quickly moved away from him as Draco moved forward, hand outstretched. "Truce, Weasley?" Ron hesitated for a moment but under the stern glares of his sister and friend, he shook the hand of the other man.
Hermione grinned. "Well, breakfast anyone?"
Ginny had squealed at the sight of the three children taking turn to hug each of them. Jayden and Aaliyah had been thoroughly confused as to who this woman was and why she was hugging them but the messy Liam had gurgled happily and began poking her face.
The red-head didn't seem to mind the bits of apple mush that were now down her front and had goo-goo-gaa-gaa-ed at the young child. Ron had quickly taken the boy from her, worrying about the remnants of his sister's sanity before he too was taken by the cuteness of the child.
Ginny was now seated with Jay and Ali while the Malfoys watched on happily. "So tell me, has anything interesting happened?" Ginny asked of the two children.
Jayden nodded fervently and when urged to tell, he did just that. "Well, Daddy had his tongue in Mummy's mouth again this morning!" Hermione stumbled in shock, before turning to glare deeply at Draco who merely shrugged, a smirk written across his face.
Ginny couldn't help but be amused at this. "Oh really now?" When she was answered with a nod, she continued. "How many times has Daddy done this?"
Jayden and Aaliyah paused for a moment before the girl answered. "Heaps! Almost every day! It's disgusting but Mummy says it shows that Daddy loves her so it's not that bad."
Ron looked disgusted muttering that it really was that bad before quickly resuming entertaining the smallest Malfoy. Ginny giggled at the two replies before sending a wink in the direction of her friends. "As disgusting as it is, a lot of married couples do that but I think that your mummy and daddy should wait until you three aren't around!"
Hermione scowled. "Tell that to Draco." She muttered causing the red-head to laugh uproariously.
Once her laughs had subsided she remembered something. "Oh! Draco, Hermione! I contacted Blaise and told him that you guys are okay and I told him where you both are. I made sure he only tells Pansy and nobody else." Draco nodded in appreciation.
"Thanks Ginny, you don't know how much that means." Ginny smiled before racing off with Aaliyah and Jayden who were determined to show her their trucks and dolls. Ron smiled up at the pair.
"You know what, you two. This kid is adorable! I have to admit, as much as I hate to, that you both make gorgeous children." He said, an expression of disgust gracing his face at that last sentence. But to both Hermione and Draco, it meant a lot.
October, 1998
The week had slowly come to an end and much to the relief of Ronald Weasley, Hermione's link to Draco had disappeared with some magical enhancements placed upon them by Professor Milford. The professor had realised that the chain was causing a lot of problems for the said pair. They hadn't seemed all too pleased but it would have to do, nevertheless.
Hermione giggled alongside Ginny as they quickly made their way to the Great Hall where they were to leave for their day with their partner for the ball. Their giggles soon subsided as they noticed a glaring Ron who was standing quietly in one corner of the large hall.
She quickly took her spot next to Draco, who greeted her with a warm smile. "So where are we going?" She asked, looking up at her husband. Draco merely smirked and smiled, nodding to McGonagall who had started speaking.
"Good morning. I know many of you were expecting your Portkeys to arrive last night but due to some changes in the plan, you'll get them now." She quickly handed the items out. "They'll activate in a minute or so. Remember to arrive back here at 5.30 this evening. Enjoy your day."
With a tug at the stomach, the room beginning to whirl around. Draco grabbed Hermione's hand as he felt himself being pulled away from Hogwarts Castle.
Hermione stared blankly at the familiar place they were in. The streets of Wizarding France were just as stunning as it had been the last time they were here; for their honeymoon. She shrieked with glee, wrapping her arms around Draco tightly. He captured her lips in a soft kiss, smirking as he heard her utmost delight.
He picked her up bridal-style before carrying her to a nearby café, Le Jardin Secret. It was a small yet elegant café, reserved for the elite and wealthy in France. Draco, of course, was part of the elite and wealthy in almost all Wizarding countries. Entry for him was simple.
Hermione stared in awe at the place. The floor was polished wood, the walls being a lighter shade than them. The tables were a deep chocolate colour, the chairs matching with milk chocolate cushioning. The lights provided enough light but were slightly dimmed, casting a romantic and inviting sense to the place.
"Breakfast, ma chère?" Draco asked, pulling out a seat for Hermione. She giggled softly, taking the seat that he offered her. "May I order for us?" He asked before seating himself beside her.
Hermione smiled, taking his hand in hers. "Of course. Remember last time you ordered breakfast for us here in France? It was so nice." Draco smirked before turning to the waiter who had appeared to serve them. He spoke in a quick, French dialect, leaving Hermione to stare blankly with confusion. "What did you order?"
She asked of him, once the waiter had left. Draco shrugged at her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're beautiful." He whispered. "So beautiful." Hermione blushed softly, looking down at her lap. "I can't believe I couldn't see it until before this summer."