A/N: Hi guys! Well this has been such a long long long story simply because I am an atrocious updater due to the fact that I wasn't that well prepared for this story. Usually my stories are written in advance and then all I have to do is post the chapters but with this one I obviously didn't do that and yeah it didn't work out too well! I'm in school doing A-levels and I just don't have the time I had previously for a story like this which wasn't pre-written!
Basically, this is going to be the last ever chapter of this story. [dramatic sob]I've been with this one for over a year and if I'm honest my motivation and imagination is just completely gone now, however, you guys have been nothing but lovely and supportive with me and I honestly can't tell you how much I am grateful for that, really. So, I didn't want to leave you guys hanging, because I know that is one of my pet hates in writing when people don't update or just leave the story. However, I am 1701% sure this chapter is as shit as the rest of them, probably the worst, so my apologies now. It's going to work a bit like a collage of memories and different points through the year and it will be rather brief and will end rather quickly, sorry. Once again, I literally love you guys, and I hope you enjoy this brief and rather shit chapter. (Ps I will hopefully be posting one of my pre-written stories sometime in the near future based on The Vampire Diaries and it will be a Kol Mikaelson x OC story bc fave character). Okay, on with this story... to the eND!
As adults will grow and maturity shows,
The terrifying rarity of truth,
As you turn to your mind,
And your thoughts they rewind,
To old happenings and things that are done,
You can't find what's passed,
Make that happiness last,
Seeing from those eyes what you become
-Haunt by Bastille
A Rebel With A Tainted Heart: Chapter 16
"So you really don't mind about me being pregnant?" Hermione asked carefully, looking up at Draco with wide brown eyes.
"Hermione, I found out nearly 6 months ago that you were pregnant and you have asked me that question nearly every day since then - will you relax?" Draco sighed, picking up Crookshanks and placing him on the counter of the kitchen.
"I know, I know, sorry, I just can't help it. Everything is just so much to take in, I mean, it's crazy," She sighed, leaning against the worktop.
"You're telling me. Sometimes I wish there was a way I could go back in time to tell my 11 year old self to do things differently," Draco murmured, picking up a green apple and shining it up on his sleeve.
"I kind of went back in time, once, a few times, quite a lot," Hermione announced suddenly, making Draco choke a little on his apple as he took a bite into it.
"You what?!"
"Remember in third year and Ron and Harry kept asking how I was behind them one minute and gone the next?" Hermione grinned at the memory, the look of confusion on her best friends faces fresh in her mind. They had been confused because Hermione's immense workload finally seemed to be getting to her. Every night, without fail, Hermione was to be seen in a corner of the common room, several tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of extensive notes; she barely spoke to anybody and snapped when she was interrupted.
"Yeah, and we all thought they'd finally gone off their rockers," Draco nodded, pressing for her to continue.
"Well I did so many classes that McGonagall decided that I couldn't possibly manage it all in one day. There just weren't enough hours in the day for me to go to all the classes and learn all the exciting, interesting things."
"Typical Granger, you went back in time to study," The blond snorted, sitting up on the counter.
"Shush. The Time-Turnerwas a device capable of time travel that resembled an hourglass on a necklace. The number of times one turns the hourglass corresponds to the number of hours one travels back in time. Time-related magic is unstable, and serious breaches in the laws of time result in catastrophic events. Possible scenarios can include a wizard or witch killing their past or future selves by mistake, or altering one's life path in such a drastic fashion that it can result in temporal anomalies such as un-births. As such, the Ministry of Magic seeks the strictest guarantees if it permits the use of Time-Turners: Time-Turner possession is hedged around with literally hundreds of laws, and the most stringent laws and penalties are in place to prevent their misuse. The longest period that can be travelled back in time without serious chance of harm to the traveller or time itself is around five hours," Hermione explained, smiling at the incredulous look on Draco's face.
"And you still did it even knowing the massive list of things that could go wrong?"
"Well, yes. I didn't want to miss out on a class that could have been beneficial to my future," Hermione responded indignantly.
"Shit Granger, that's badass," Draco smirked and she laughed at him.
"It all got too much of course. After we used it to save Sirius Black I returned it to McGonagall. I'm not sure if she still has it but I know that all the Time Turners in the possession of the Ministry of Magic have been destroyed."
"Maybe you'll find it again. I heard they all have inscriptions on them that are unique to each one. Do you remember what yours said?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I mark the hours, every one, Nor have I yet outrun the Sun. My use and value, unto you, Are gauged by what you have to do," Hermione recited excitedly.
"You remembered it off by heart?"
"I study things well so that I can remember them when I need them," Hermione defended, crossing her arms as Draco held his up in defence.
"Anyway, you helped Sirius Black? Didn't you get in trouble for that?" Draco raised both eyebrows curiously.
"It all turned out that he was innocent. Anyway, the fact that wizard law enforcement found Peter Pettigrew's finger and immediately closed the investigation, declared him dead, and concluded that the only possible explanation for why they only found a finger was that he was killed so hard that the rest of him was obliterated kind of speaks volumes about why nobody followed up when the supposed genocidal serial killer just vanished," Hermione rolled her eyes at the thought.
"Well yes, the Ministry of Magic is fucking useless," Draco agreed, chuckling deeply.
"No, what gave you that impression?" Hermione retorted sarcastically, earning another eyebrow raise from Draco.
"Someone's sassy today."
"I'm sassy every day, you just don't realise it the majority of the time because you're always complaining about something," Hermione replied, smirking a little at her blond boyfriend.
"Oh, me-ow," Draco teased, picking up another apple, "I'm gonna go find Blaise, I'll see you later."
"Literally I'm starting to think you're in love with green apples more than me Draco."
"You know I am," He winked, taking a bite before strolling out the portrait hole, leaving Hermione to laugh alone in the now silent dormitory. The brunette witch let out a long sigh before sinking down into one of the arm chairs by the unlit fire – her favourite place to sit for hours on end and reflect about anything and everything.
It had been nearly one whole year since the Great Wizarding War – one whole year since Lord Voldemort's defeat, one whole year since the loss of loved ones, one whole year of what seemed like nothing in comparison to the upside down dramatic lives they were forced to lead beforehand. Things in every day life but it seemed that within the Ministry, almost nothing had changed at all – it was still run like a hardline regime. Although, new elections had been called to take place for the next weeks, the Wizarding Community wanted rid of the dictator-like 'vampire' Rufus Scrimgeour. The thought of this reminded Hermione of the letter she had received earlier that morning;
Dear Miss Granger (Hermione),
I have to say, I hope things are better than they were the last time we met. I do believe the last time we encountered one another, young Mr Malfoy was lying on the floor of St Mungo's bleeding out everywhere and I was holding the chains linked to the handcuffs adorning his father's thin wrists. I take it that there have been no further problems since then but I do encourage you to come to me should you come across anymore trouble – I dare say that no matter where you go, danger seems to be attracted by you. I do hope you and the baby are well, along with Mr Malfoy – please give him my best.
I am writing to inform you of the new upcoming Wizarding election for the Minister of Magic post, but as the Brightest Witch of Her Age I'm sure you already know exactly the ins and outs of what is going on. I have decided to run for the post this year, as after watching the disaster that Mr Scrimgeour has created, surely I cannot make much more of a mess?
The Wizarding World is in a state of disarray, even still after all this time, the War has been over for nearly a year and yet the economy has declined even more if that is possible. I suppose what I am really asking for is your promise and support in my vote to become the new Minister of Magic. I daresay I could be at least even a small improvement from the last one.
Stay safe and in good health,
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Ministry of Magic
Hermione had to agree with him, anyone would have been better than Rufus Scrimgeour, perhaps, dare she say it, even Ronald Weasley. Yet her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of her boyfriend, no, fiance. It was all still very hard to believe, how far they had come, how far their friends had come and how far the Wizarding Community had come too. But the memories of what had happened still lived on strongly amongst them all. Hermione noticed the nights where Draco's nightmares were bad and he refused to admit that they ever happened. And Hermione hated it because she knew Draco was still hurting but if he wouldn't talk any more than he already had about it, then Hermione didn't know what else to do. She remembered that one night when she started to hear the beginnings of whimpers and cries coming from their room whilst she was studying in their dormitory type living room, she didn't even hesitate and went and crawled into bed with him wrapping her arms around him until the cries stopped. Draco had woken up the next morning feeling surprisingly refreshed and he didn't understand why until he looked over and saw Hermione fast asleep sprawled over half of the bed and him. He had just smiled, moving close to the brunette witch and going right back to sleep. So much had changed but neither could have been happier.
~O-O~
Draco walked briskly down the corridor, trying to find Blaise, the man was like a ghost, disappearing and reappearing at various points throughout the castle and finding him got harder every time. It had only been a few months ago, during the Christmas break that he had been walking quickly down the same corridor, behind a sprinting Blaise Zabini. It had, of course, been due to Sarafina Zabini's actions, as many of Blaise's problems usually started.
It was a little after dinner and the usual teachers had all remained sitting in their circle of chairs. They were surprised to see Blaise Zabini practically running through the hall with Draco Malfoy walking quickly behind him. The pair stopped directly in front of Professor Dumbledore, slightly out of breath.
"Professor, sir, please will you lift the Anti-Apparation wards for ten minutes? I've received a letter from our last remaining house elf at the Manor. She is on her way home for Christmas Break and apparently my mother has run off again. She's left my little sister at home on her own and I need to get to her. May I please bring her here; it's only for a day please?" Blaise rushed, worry sparkling in his hazel eyes.
"Of course Mr Zabini, they are being lifted. Your little sister may stay here with you until you are leaving," The elderly wizard smiled and waved a hand to lift the enchantments.
"Thank you!" Blaise said quickly.
"Blaise, calm down, she will be fine. You know your old house elf Saoife, she won't leave until you have Christi," Draco spoke reassuringly to his Italian friend who smiled slightly before disapparating. Malfoy sat down on the couch, yawning and clasping his pale hands together.
"Mr Zabini is extremely worried Mr Malfoy. Just how old is his little sister?" Professor McGonagall asked the blond boy.
"Christi is only a baby Professor; she's one and a half. But she's very intelligent and perceptive. She's like my little sister too," Malfoy answered, trying not to let the worry seep into his voice.
"One and a half? Good lord, has that woman got any sense?" The Transfiguration Teacher asked, horrified.
"Please. Sarafina Zabini has got nothing like that – no conscience, no sense, no worry for her children. She knowingly left her one and a half year old at home alone. She knows that Blaise is here and Negozi is in Azkaban," Draco replied, disgusted at Sarafina's actions.
A quiet POP! near the entrance of the hall alerted them to Blaise's arrival.
"Hey Draco, come here a second. Can you take Christi while I go find Red and Hermione?" He called into the hall.
"Sure," The blond replied, quickly walking to the double doors.
"Unca Dwaco?" A tiny voice asked.
"Hiya Christi, wow, aren't you getting big?" The baby was tiny, only about two and a half feet tall.
"Hugs Unca Dwaco, Christi missed you," The tiny voice sounded tearful.
"Course babba, come here. I'll hold you while Blaise goes to find some people," The blond re-entered the hall with a tiny body enveloped in a Slytherin green baby grow hugging him tightly. He approached the Professors, who were amazed at the little girl's attachment to him.
He gently set her down in the middle of the floor while he sat on the same sofa he had occupied only moments before.
"Christi, come here and take your hood down so you can see everyone," He smiled at the curious look in the baby's eyes.
"Is dis the place wif the en..enc.. magic ceiling?" She asked him, stumbling over the big word.
"Yes it is, look," He took her hood down and she looked up in amazement. The teachers saw the most gorgeous little baby standing before them.
Professor McGonagall was watching the child with a loving look on her face – the baby was adorable. She could not even begin to comprehend how someone could leave her.
She had the most enthralling hazel eyes and curls almost identical to her older brother's – although her hair was a shade or two lighter. And Gods, she was tiny!
"You're Pwofessa Dumbledore and you're his wife," The baby stumbled over to the pair and sat down at their feet happily.
"Yes we are. And you must be Christi Zabini, Blaise Zabini's little sister," Dumbledore smiled, delighted at the child – she was the cutest thing he had ever seen.
"Baze is so annoying," She huffed, crossing her tiny arms, causing the teachers to chuckle. She yawned suddenly, showing five perfect baby teeth.
"Unca Dwaco?" She asked the blond.
"Hm?"
"I'm tired," She said simply. The teachers were confused as he readjusted himself so he was laying the length of the sofa, feet dangling off the edge.
"Kay baby girl, Blaise will be back soon but you can go to sleep where you usually do," He replied softly. The baby got up, rubbing her eyes gently before toddling over to Draco. She climbed up the sofa so she was sitting on his chest. Minerva McGonagall nearly died at how adorable the child was as she lay down on the young Malfoy's chest and he put his hand on her back.
"Does she usually sleep like that?" Poppy Pomfrey asked, blinking back tears at the pair.
"Usually, she sleeps like this on me or Blaise. When we're both here or away, she lies in one of our beds in either Manor with our Slytherin scarves. Blaise wants her to be a Slytherin – I've told him she only likes the scarves because they smell like us but he doesn't listen. Plus, Christi likes me better, don't you baby girl?" He asked the baby.
"I wuv my Unca Dwaco." The female teachers put a hand to their mouths.
"He's much betta dan Baze, he's comfy and tall. I like Baze, sometimes. He's annoying," The little girl giggled quietly and they all chuckled. Soon she was asleep and breathing softly.
"She is adorable, I simply cannot understand how Sarafina could leave her," Professor Sprout said sadly.
"Cause she's a bitch," Blaise scoffed, walking through the hall with Ginny and Hermione.
"Blaise!" Draco warned. He knew that Sarafina Zabini was a touchy subject for the Italian.
"Is Christi asleep?" He asked his best friend, who gestured to the tiny green shape lying on his chest.
"Yeah, she's fine. She also admitted she likes me more. I told you," Draco mocked.
-Oh my God, Blaise's little sister is so cute! She looks just like him!
Ginny and Hermione reacted to Christi pretty much similar to any other woman on the entire planet. The baby just drew them in with her dimples, curls and cheeky grin.
-Jesus, Draco looks so hot and adorable with Christi.
"Unca Dwaco? Is Baze back?" The small baby girl raised her head to ask him sleepily. Ginny and Hermione held back squees.
"Yes baby girl, he's here. Do you want to sleep on him?" The young Malfoy asked her gently.
"No Baze is annoying, I wanna stay here," She said firmly, going back to sleep.
"And there you have it Blaise, proof your little sister likes me better," Draco smirked.
"Oh go to hell!" Blaise huffed, sitting down on the free sofa beside Ginny and putting an arm around her.
"Sorry Hermione, I'm taking up the sofa, hold on," Draco said, moving carefully so as to not wake the baby.
"It's fine, don't worry. Aw, she's adorable," Hermione grinned and Draco smirked, waggling his eyebrows suggestively so only she could see.
"She's not adorable when she's telling you how much better Draco is than you. ("What can I say? Every one loves me").You're lucky Professor, you almost ended up with Bernard too," Blaise rolled his eyes and Draco burst into quiet laughter.
"Who's Bernard?" Professor Slughorn asked.
"This puppy Christi has that runs about the Manor and I swear to God, it's like a drowned rat. The thing attacks me every time we come in contact. It's a hell hound so I gave it to Saoife to look after at Christmas, she and her baby house elves love the thing," Blaise complained.
"It's not like a drowned rat Professor, it's a cutie but it has a passionate hatred for Blaise. You can see it in the eyes. I came in one day and it had attached itself to his arm by its jaws and he couldn't get it off. He was waving his arm like a maniac," Draco explained, tears running down his face while Blaise merely scowled as the other's burst into laughter.
"I wish I had a picture of that!" Ginny giggled as Blaise narrowed his eyes at her.
"I still have teeth marks on my arms, no joke," He glared at Draco who was silently howling with laughter, trying not to wake Christi.
Draco smiled at the memory, running a hand through his messy hair and almost running head first into a very out of breath Blaise Zabini. The Italian looked very flushed, clearly having ran through the majority of the castle, which was almost empty due to the last monthly Hogsmeade visit.
"Blaise, I was looking for you. What the hell is wrong with your face? Why are you so red?" Draco bit back a laugh at his best friend who shot him a look so dark he almost believed it would kill him.
"Pansy, her waters just broken upstairs in the hospital wing. Dumbledore lifted the Anti-Apparation spell last night for about 6 of the girls who had to go to St Mungo's Maternity as well and apparently it is still lifted so we all are going now," Blaise explained quickly, watching as Draco's eyes widened at the explanation.
"Now? We're due to graduate from here in like two days?!"
"Go get Hermione, I'm going to find Ginny. Meet us both at the entrance hall in ten minutes," Blaise ordered, turning to start running again.
"Blaise, Blaise, Blaise. Just apparate mate, duh," Draco shook his head at the Italian whose mouth dropped open.
"Apparate of course," Blaise muttered sharply, disappearing off with a sharp CRACK! Great, so now Draco was going back to St Mungo's, again. At least it would be Weasley's hand Pansy would be breaking, and not him or Blaise's. He was praying the twins looked like Pans, god forbid there were more male ginger Weasleys.
~O-O~
Hermione wasn't sure who looked more terrified - Draco at the fact he was about to become a dad for real, Lucius Malfoy at the fact that it was actually happening and he was present, or Narcissa who looked more terrified at her now stained antique carpet. Hermione was so amused that she burst out laughing, causing them all to look at her like she'd grown an extra head.
"Honestly, you three look terrified. Mr Malfoy, could you please ring my parents and get them to St Mungos? Narcissa, here, all gone," Hermione offered kindly, waving her wand and making the carpet look as good as new.
"And how are you so calm?" Draco murmured sotfly as he guided her out the door by her arm, past his insane parents.
"I'm not sure really. Let me know how calm I am later when I'm breaking every bone in your hand," The brunette grinned, wincing slightly at a painful contraction.
"I definitely will, you couldn't be any worse than Pansy," Draco smirked, making sure Hermione was alright.
Pansy had demanded literally every pain reliever be given to her and Harry's eloquent description of her had been that she was "as high as a kite" and giggling at everything. Poor Ron however had emerged with two beautiful dark haired babies and a very broken hand. It seemed that Pansy and Ron had broken the Weasley tradition also as the twins were both girls - neither appeared to have the traditional ginger hair although their eyes were startling blue colours. After much deliberation, the pair had decided on Ava Ruby Weasley and Isla Molly Weasley - both middle names honouring respective mothers.
And now, Draco and Hermione had one very tiny baby boy and the very big issue of a name to deal with. Hermione had not broken Draco's hand despite him complaining very loudly several times that she had. Their little boy was tiny, and he had the cutest button nose and a tuft of white blond hair, much like Draco, although he had Hermione's features too. Hermione's parents wanted him to have a traditional Muggle name whereas Draco's parents wanted a name in keeping with the Black and Malfoy family tradition. And if they were honest, Draco and Hermione had no idea what they wanted themselves - they just knew that they wanted it to be something they chose.
"What about Scorpius as the middle name? Then that's my side of the family happy and the baby won't get teased with a stupid name like mine as a first name?" Draco suggested to Hermione, rocking the sleeping baby Malfoy gently.
"What about Josias as a first name? It's unusual and I think it fits," Hermione offered and Draco smiled.
"I think it's nice, yeah, Josias Malfoy," He agreed, looking down at the baby.
"Maybe keep the middle name on the down low."
"Draco!"
"What? I'm only saying. Dad lectured me for like three hours about having a Malfoy family name. They're all awful, that was the best one he offered me," Draco defended.
"Don't be mean!"
"I'm just saying it's a dick name!"
"Draco!"
"Sorry!"
~O-O~
Ginny and Blaise's wedding followed not long after, with a smiling Italian and a slightly pregnant redheaded Weasley. Then came Daphne and Harry's first child. Then Theo and Luna's wedding - "bizarre one that was," Draco commented, earning a smack round the head from Hermione. Then Ron and Pansy's third child. Then Harry and Daphne's wedding. Then Ginny and Blaise's baby and a crying Blaise, which he denied adamantly. Then Hermione and Draco's wedding which they kept simple, mainly for the benefit of the Muggle side of the family. Then Ron and Pansy's wedding - at which Hermione threw up so many times that she just knew what was coming. And then, Josias had a new sibling, and a new cousin and new friends all born around the same time.
And it was strange, still none of them could wrap their heads around it. Here they were, married with children before twenty one when a few years ago the only exchanges between them all were those of hatred. But they always said war changed people, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the worse. But finally, it looked like maybe, life was starting to go their way. Everything was calm, everything was peaceful, and for the first time in many years, the Golden and the Silver trio were happy, but who would have thought it would have been with each other? All was well.