Ginny was upset to know that Hermione had been living in their new house for over a month without planning a housewarming party. Hermione assured her that they did not need to force their friends to welcome them to their house when most of them did not approve of their relationship.

The redhead insisted and now here she was hanging up streamers of red and gold on one wall before putting green and silver on another wall. Hermione teased her relentlessly at resorting to their Hogwarts house color to decorate for the party. But Hermione held up her wand to help put up the rest of the decorations up.

"I love the new place," Ginny exclaimed when she first saw the inside before getting to work, Hermione was pleased that throughout everything that Ginny at least supported her choices. They had gotten closer after the school ended and she counted her as her closest girl best friend. She wished she was still as close to Harry and Ron, but they still held a big piece of her heart.

After Draco and Hermione announced they were officially dating to the Daily Prophet a week later she had received many letters from people who decided they should have a say in their relationship. Hermione would talk to Harry often, but noticed he was a bit surprised that they escalated past just a summer romance. Ginny informed her that he was trying to tame down Ron's temper towards the whole thing as well so he was just stressed.

"Who all did you invite?" Hermione finally asked and Ginny looked at Hermione, biting her lip was a telling sign that she may have invited a few people they would not have approved of.

"It's a surprise… Come on Hermione. It is one night." Ginny reasoned while Hermione rolled her eyes.

"One night that could end terribly wrong with both of our group of friends. Our houses barely played nice in school."

"Both of you will be able to put them in their places. They treated you both like royalty." Ginny rolled her eyes and turned back to wave her wand and the streamers twisted together perfectly.

"Respect is not them treating us like royalty." Hermione then looked down at her wand and wondered how quickly she would be able to end the evening.

Draco returned home from work and he had a small smile when he noticed the decorations. He disapproved of the party, but it was also kind of exciting. They were officially moved in, both working for the Ministry in different departments, it was about time to try and make a life for themselves and that included making friends with the other's friends.

He went upstairs to change, choosing a simple sweater and dark slacks for this get together before going to the kitchen to get a small snack.

Draco was surprised to see an older redhead cooking. Magic hummed in the air as Draco felt the familiar pull as pots and pans flew around the room.

"Um. I didn't know any of the guests were here yet." Draco stammered nervously, "But you must be Mrs. Weasley."

"Yes, she is!" Ginny exclaimed as she appeared at the other door. "I needed help with the food, so I hired the only person I know who can cook for a small horde of people." Molly laughed at her daughter comment and waved her hand and all the cookware came to a stop so she could wipe her hands and extend it out to Draco. Draco shook her hand and gasped in shock when he was pulled into a hug.

"Nice to finally meet you as Hermione's.. Fiance.. Or Boyfriend?" Molly questioned with confusion in her voice.

"Boyfriend" Draco coughed as he pulled away and Molly winked at him.

"You look so different than when you were a boy. You have color to your cheeks. Warmth in your eyes. But you need a haircut." Molly tsked the way only a mother could. Draco put a hand to the small bun at the back of his neck. Hermione hadn't said anything about it, but he had gone a bit without cutting his hair.

"I'll keep that in mind. It's nice to meet you as well." Draco then saw a plate fly close to him and he stifled the urge to step back. He saw on the plate small sandwiches and his stomach grumbled in protest.

"Take a couple and go help Ginny, leave me be in here. I still have a lot to do." Molly shooed both Draco and Ginny out of the kitchen.

"My mother always has a soft spot for those who make her children happy." Ginny informed as they left and Draco gave her a questioning look. "Hermione and Harry were always welcomed to the family like they were her own. If they ever needed a place they knew they had it at the burrow."

"Well, I'm glad I have two Weasleys on my side." Draco admitted and Ginny smiled.

"Technically I'm a Potter" Ginny stuck her tongue out and walked away laughing.


The party was doing okay. Things were awkward, but Hermione tried to make the best of it, making sure to introduce herself to Blaise, Pansy, and Theo. She knew they were still in contact with Draco and the look that Blaise gave her made her feel like Draco talked to him more than the other two. She got tired of strange faces and decided to find some of the ones she knew and loved.

"Have you eaten?" Draco whispered in her ear as his arm wrapped around her waist, startling her. Hermione shook her head, causing Draco to frown at her. "You can't let your nerves keep you from eating. I had to overcome talking to your ex, that's worse than what my few friends could cause you to be nervous"

"The fact that no curses and jinxes have been thrown around is what is making me nervous. I know Ginny drilled into people to be on their best behavior but still. And I already apologized for her inviting Ron." Hermione pouted and Draco let out a chuckle before turning her around.

The sound of the door opened and Hermione saw Draco's eyes go up to meet whoever just walked in and his face fell.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked and Draco ignored her question before going up to Ginny.

"YOU INVITED THEM" Draco screamed and Hermione turned to see Narcissa and Lucius at the door. A present was in their arms, but they looked uncomfortable and Hermione turned again to see Harry clearing the room of guests to elsewhere in the house. Ginny is standing her ground and crossed her arms across her chest.

"You guys can't keep disregarding family, living your fairy tale world on your own. Hell, if you guys didn't have jobs you would have probably gotten married without telling anyone."

"You had no right!" Hermione walked over to pull Draco's arm back, noticing the hurt lacing his words of anger.

"They might have been invited, but they chose to come. Maybe just hear them out" Hermione tried to reason and Draco shot a glare to his parents before looking at Hermione "You haven't even seen your father since he got out. It's time to face this and move on"

"You were in on this." Draco hissed before yanking his arm away from her like he was burned and Hermione tried to talk to him but he left the room before she got a word out.

"I told you we shouldn't have come" Narcissa sounded and Lucius stood stunned. Hermione blinked away the tears of the hurt of Draco's rejection and turned to greet them.

Ginny whispered an apology and Hermione noted to talk to her later.

"Just join everyone else, I'll try and fix this but just have everyone ready to leave at a moment's notice. Maybe find Blaise to talk to Draco." Hermione whispered back before taking a deep breath.

"I thought he knew we were invited. We wouldn't have come otherwise" Lucius stated, Hermione saw a brokenness in his eyes that she never saw before in the older wizard. His eyes reminded her too much of Draco in that moment.

"No you guys should have been invited. Although misplaced, Ginny was right in this. We have been hiding behind a facade for a while because it's safer to be hidden and not have to worry about judgement" Hermione admitted and Narcissa looked away for a second.

"We are trying really hard to accept this" Lucius stated and Narcissa looked at him shocked. "I'm not going to lie to her. Hermione is smart enough to know that years of hatred and corruption doesn't just go away. We can only continue with love for our son. Narcissa got out of Azkaban with the mindset that Draco still needed us. She wanted all of us to start fresh in a new country. When she told me what happened, I was not surprised"

"You weren't?" Hermione asked and Lucius let out a nervous chuckle.

"He obsessed over you for years. Tried so hard to beat you every chance he got. And it did not go unnoticed that he was on the wrong side of the war. He's a stronger man. Stronger than I could ever be"

Blaise entered the room and Hermione looked at him before going over.

"I talked to him. He agreed to listen to what they wanted to say, but alone." Blaise informed and Hermione tried to protest but decided against it.

"I'll leave." Hermione told him before turning to Lucius and Narcissa again.

"Wait, Hermione. We wanted to give you the present." Narcissa finally said and held out the present. Hermione took the box and opened it.

"It's the family's oldest copy of the Tales of Beedle the Bard. It should stay in the family." Narcissa explained and Hermione ran her fingers over the old book and gave them a smile

"Thank you. It really is a wonderful gift." Hermione then said a quick goodbye before leaving the room. There Draco leaned against the wall. Their eyes meeting quickly before Hermione tried to walk past him. He reached for her, but his fingertips just grazed her before she was gone again. He looked to the door that led to the room that held his parents and he sighed before deciding to get it over with.


Draco got ready for bed that night with a heavy heart. His talk with his parents ended well and he felt like an ass for having an outburst at their party. Hermione laid on the bed under the covers and he knew she was still hurting.

"Hermione.. I don't want to go to bed like this." Draco whispered as he laid down next to her, "Please come out from under the covers, Ginny said that you told everyone to go home and then came up here."

"I didn't invite them"

"I know. Ginny told Blaise to make sure that I knew. Blaise also told me that I was being a prat, so I already got talked to from accusing you." Draco tried to pull the blanket down and Hermione slammed it back down to the bed, "Hermione, I can not handle this tonight."

"What happened?"

"I want to see you first." Draco demanded. The room went quiet for a while as they both tested each other. Hermione refusing to come out of the covers and Draco refusing to speak.

"You'll have to speak eventually" Hermione pointed out.

"You'll have to come out eventually" Draco retorted.

Few more moments passed before Hermione pulled the cover down and Draco looked at her. His hand reaching for her, but she pulled away.

"Talk. Now"

"They told me that they are moving back into the Manor. We are supposed to have dinner with them at least twice a month. They want to start over with me." Draco informed and looked away as tears began to glisten his eyes. "I only ever wanted them to be parents for me, and now they want that. They approve of us, I didn't think that would ever be possible for us. I might have messed it up though. I understand if you want me to leave"

Hermione looked at him and realized the gravity of his last statement.

"I don't want that. I love you." Hermione whispered before sitting up and leaning on him. Draco let out a cry before wrapping his arms tightly around her.

"That party was awful.." He finally whined and Hermione couldn't help but chuckle as he cried.


The next couple of years was a whirlwind for them as they got married and decided to start a family.

If anyone told a younger Draco and Hermione they would be sitting in front of the fireplace of the Malfoy Manor reading their three year old The Tales of Beedle The Bard while Narcissa and Lucius watched, they would laugh in their face.

Hermione was happy with this outcome, knowing that Draco was as well. Plus Draco was excited to be able to have a Muggle Christmas, considering Hermione was finally able to track down her parents and return their memories.

They both looked at each other and shared a smile.