It seems we're coming close to the end. I'm pretty sure I have one chapter and the epilogue left. I'm working on two other stories, both of which were ideas given to me by two loyal readers. So, there will be some new stuff in the near future! I haven't even started on my Christmas Dramione story yet! I must get to that soon.

Chapter 21
The wedding was a small affair. The ceremony was held on the grounds of Malfoy Manor a month after Jo's first birthday. Narcissa held the little girl who squirmed in her arms, desperate to escape to her mother's side. Scorpius stood by his grandmother's side as he watched his parents dance their first dance as a married couple. He pulled at his bow tie, claiming it was too tight and that he wanted to remove the loathsome scrap of fabric.

"Stop pulling on it," Lucius Malfoy muttered, placing a hand on his grandson's shoulder.

Scorpius stopped, but scowled. "Mummy said I could take it off after we took pictures," he explained. "Didn't we do that? Can I ask Mummy and Daddy now if I take it off?"

"Not yet, sweetheart," Narcissa told him kindly as she readjusted Jo in her arms. "Let them dance first. The song's almost over, then you can ask." She gazed lovingly at the couple in the middle of the dance floor, glad that her son had finally found happiness.

The song ended as the couple kissed and were soon greeted by Scorpius. "Mummy, Mummy, if I dance with you can I take the tie off now?" he asked, his gray eyes pleading.

Smiling, Hermione bent down and helped him remove the tie. "You didn't have to bribe me, but now I plan to make you pay," she replied, her smile widening as she scooped him up.

Another song began to play as more couples joined them on the dance floor. Draco, now without a dance partner, joined his parents and took Jo from his mother. "Thank you for watching her," he said to them as he kissed the top of Joanna's head. "Hermione was worried that you'd be playing babysitter all night."

Lucius opened his mouth to speak a snide remark when he felt his wife's elbow connect with a rib. Instead he said nothing and turned to look behind him. "Did someone invite the Weasleys?" he inquired; the name Weasley dripping with venomous disdain.

Draco walked away to greet the newest arrivals as Narcissa plastered on a friendly smile. "Hermione is still close with them, and she wanted them here," she explained. "You will respect your daughter-in-law and her guests."

Huffing, he walked away from his wife in search of the bar. Some mind numbing firewhiskey was all he needed to make it through the evening. A redheaded man was ahead of him waiting for his own drink. Lucius sneered, deciding it must be a Weasley. The bartender placed a drink before the other man before turning his attention to the father of the groom. Without having to order, the barkeep placed a firewhiskey before him.

"Cheers," the redhead stated, holding up his glass. It was then that he turned to face the older wizard. "I take it you're not happy about this either," he added after downing his drink.

"Why ever would I object to my only son marrying a mudblood?" Lucius retorted, slamming back his firewhiskey in favor of another.

Ron too ordered a second drink. "I hate watching him with my daughter. I don't care if he and Hermione are together, but seeing him with my kid...she thinks he's her father." He shook his head and drank.

Lucius quirked a pale blond eyebrow. "Smart little girl, that one," he snarked, placing his now empty glass on the bar before walking away.

Ron stood alone when Hermione caught his eye. She smiled tentatively and made her way to him, sending Scorpius off to find his father. "I'm glad you came, even if it is incredibly awkward for you," she said when she reached him.

"It's nothing," he mumbled, looking around the ballroom. "How's Jo?"

Hermione smiled as she watched her new husband twirl around the dance floor with her laughing daughter in his arms. "She's doing really well," she replied, listening to the giggles of the girl who looked so much like her. "Scorpius has become insanely protective, but in a sweet way. We took them to a park near the office, and he wouldn't let any of the bigger kids come near her in case they knocked her down. He's like her bodyguard. I hope they're still like that when they get to Hogwarts. It scares me to think of her being there on her own."

Ron turned and ordered another drink. "That's still ten years away, Mione," he pointed out. "Sorry to pull you away from the party, but I figured there was no other time than now to talk."

Hermione's brow furrowed. "Talk to me or to your daughter?" she inquired. "It has been awhile since you've seen her."

"She's a year old, Mione," he scoffed. "I doubt she could hold a conversation."

Draco approached then with Jo in his arms. The little girl eyed Ron warily, as if trying to place the man she'd met only a handful of times. Ron scowled as his child clung tighter to the man holding her. He waved awkwardly to the little girl who stared passively at him while resting her head on Draco's shoulder.

"She and Scor are getting tired. Mum offered to put them to bed for us," Draco informed Hermione, pretending Ron didn't exist.

"Tell her I said thanks," Hermione replied, idly stroking her daughter's brown curls. Draco kissed his wife's forehead, offered a small smile to Ron, and disappeared with Jo.

Ron looked longingly as his daughter was carried from the ballroom. "She looks exactly like you. Sometimes I wonder if she's really mine," he commented. When he turned back to look at the impatient witch standing in front of him, the small grin he wore disappeared. "I came to tell you something. The Auror's office is sending me to New Zealand for a year. They wanted Harry to go too, but with Ginny and the kids it wasn't possible. We're helping to train their Aurors, make them as good as us, I guess. Anyhow, that's it."

"That's it," she commented dryly. "You put me through hell, Ron. You threatened to take my daughter away from me. You made promises you knew you wouldn't keep. You said you'd come around every weekend, but haven't seen her since the beginning of summer. And now you're just walking away, doing what you do best. Bye, Ron. Have a nice life." Scoffing, she turned on her heel and exited the ballroom. It was dangerous to follow her, but Ron knew it was required; she wasn't done. Silently, she stalked from the ballroom, across the grand foyer, and entered a sitting room on the other side of the floor. Once he had joined her, she charmed the room to keep them from being heard. "You interrupted my wedding reception to tell me you're leaving for a year because you haven't got the same kind of obligations as Harry. Am I getting this right?"

"Calm down," he muttered, leaning back against the closed door.

She stared incredulously as he looked like the wounded party. "I saw the hurt look on your face when Jo didn't acknowledge you. You keep leaving and she'll never get to know you," she stated as she kicked off her painful high heels. "I won't do this anymore, Ron. I won't beg you to be involved. I won't tell you that you belong in her life. It's obvious you never had an interest in doing that. So, go, enjoy New Zealand. I'm sorry this never worked out." She pushed past him to open the door and leave him.

"Bye, Mione," he murmured as she went.