Nine years have passed since Draco and I finally reunited and we have been together ever since.

We have been dating for two years and Draco proposed to me on my birthday. It was a charming day.

When I woke up, there was a huge bouquet of roses lying beside me with a note "I love you". I slowly walked over to the kitchen just to find my most favourite tea (that was incredibly expensive and I drank it only at special occasions) already waiting for me on the table. Next to it, I found a note with an address and words "Check your closet". My closet was hiding a beautiful white dress with pearls and the address guided me to some old building in the edge of the town.

When I arrived, Draco was already waiting for me and with beating heart, I followed him upstairs the building just to stand in amazement again. It was a re-creation of our first date in Paris!

Everything went like the first time and yet it all felt new. Draco remembered to call me silly pet names and we even danced without music. But the evening didn´t end just like that. I still remember Draco´s shaking voice when he said:

"Close your eyes, love."

I did as I was told and trembled a bit when he hugged me from behind.

"When I say one, you may open your eyes," he whispered. "Three...two...one."

I opened my eyes and looked at the sky. The stars were constellated in words: Will you marry me, Hermione Granger?

Without a single doubt, without fear I was doing something wrong, I threw myself into Draco´s arms and whispered:

"Yes."

We got married couple of months later.

We have lived on our own for two years when another decision came. But this time, I wasn´t alone to decide it, I had somebody with me. And we decided together. And we accepted the challenge.

And nine months later, our little champion was born.

My mum was always saying she doesn´t remember how I looked like the day I was born, because she was too tired and she could barely keep her eyes open. But I remember my little football player completely clearly. I remember his tiny nose and ears, his quick heartbeat and his healthy scream.

We named him Haden.

I never thought I would see Draco Malfoy so happy around his child. He didn´t make scenes or some silly faces, but I saw the look on his face when he first held his son. I doubt I have ever seen anyone so happy.

Haden is now five years old. He´s got my sense of responsibility and my chocolate hair but he inherited Draco´s ability to talk himself out of any trouble and his silver eyes.

Haden makes me proud every day. Not only he is a handsome young boy, he is also very talented and charismatic. I often see him and his dad playing football (as I forbade him to play Quidditch at such a young age) and I´m grateful for my two champions.

I should also probably mention what happened the day I cancelled my wedding – again. Draco and I came back to the church couple of hours later, hand-in-hand, and we apologized to every person in the room. Ron seemed like he was about to have an emotional breakdown and I would have sworn I saw Molly Weasley reaching for her wand.

We managed to escape with a huge help of Ginny, who yelled at everybody who glanced daggers at us, including her fiancé. I still remember her angry voice, when she was saying:

"It´s a fate, nobody can stop true love."

Harry was looking at her as if she was crazy, but Ginny cooled him down right away. She explained the situation to him and I suppose he did understand it.

But I haven´t seen him, Ron or anybody from the Weasley family (except from Ginny) over four months.

At the beginning of the fifth month, Ginny personally dragged Harry to our house and made us talk to each other. Harry still wasn´t a bit happy about me and Draco, but by the end of the night, they were actually trying to have a decent conversation. I was so proud of them.

Ron and I...that was a bit harder. We have talked under Ginny´s supervision after two years without any communication. I have cried quite a lot that day, still devastated to see my best friend in such a state. But we have talked about everything and by the end of the same year, we were able to meet without one of us ending in tears. Our relationship yet still isn´t on the same level as it used to be.

I don´t ever meet with any Weasley except for these two. George stops by occasionally and I see Percy on the Ministry, but I was officially forbidden to ever step a foot in Burrow again.

But it wasn´t just me making sacrifices. Draco´s father wasn´t very happy about us still being together.

"Your mother wouldn´t be very proud of you, son," he said.

"Mother would have loved Hermione just as much as I do. I´m sorry to disappoint you, father, but you better get used to seeing Hermione around more often," Draco stated calmly.

"Like hell I will," I have never seen Lucius that furious.

Draco´s father eventually cut Draco out of his last will. He came to see us few months after Haden was born and our relationship got a bit better, but he still isn´t very satisfied about me. Anyway, he is a perfect grandfather to Haden. It´s hard to believe he used to be a lousy father. I suppose people change through their age and experiences.

My parents greeted Draco as if he was their own son, so at least they went easy on us.

And so I am here. Nine years full of drama and tears but also incredible happiness. Thanks to Draco, I have strength to fight on and to reinforce my relationships with everybody.

I sit on an ebon chair in mine and Draco´s house and write these lines. I check the time. It´s almost time for dinner. We have invited Ginny and Harry and their kids. Ron said he would also like to join in. I still hold the paper and pen and I go down the stairs. I can smell something burning. I peek in the kitchen and try my best not to laugh. No matter how many years will pass, Draco´s relationship with kitchen will never be strong.

I want to help him, but a little movement inside of me stops me. Yes, this dinner will be a bit unusual. I ran over my belly with my hand and feel another weak kick. This feast will be special as I have a little surprise for my family and my friends. I just hope Draco won´t be mad at me for keeping it as a secret for over three months. I know how he hates surprises.

Several minutes later, Ginny and her family arrives.

"Darling, it´s so great to see you. How have you been?" she asks as she hugs me.

"I´m great, thanks for asking. Hey, Harry," I smile and hug the tall man in front of me.

"Hey, ´Mione," Harry hugs me. It´s almost as if nothing ever happened.

"Lilly, go and hug auntie ´Mione," Ginny encourages her little daughter.

Lilly Potter is one year younger than my son, but they are on very good terms. She looks just like Harry but her hair looks like fire even more than Ginny´s hair.

Little girl doesn´t answer, but she hugs me with all her strength. I look around, but I can´t see any other of Potter´s kids.

"Gin, where is James and Albus?" I ask.

Albus is two years older than Haden and James is about to go to Hogwarts this year. James is a mix of his mother and father, but he has got the same untameable hair as Harry. Albus, on the other hand, has a face after his mother. He is also the only one of their kids who inherited the colour of Harry´s eyes.

Ginny rolls over her eyes. "They are both staying with mum. Albus wasn´t feeling well and James is just too lazy to go anywhere."

I laugh. "I see. Well, don´t just stand there, dinner should be ready in no time."

The second I say it, my two champions walk out of the kitchen. Haden quickly hugs Ginny and Harry and then runs away with Lilly. Draco shakes hands with Harry and gives Ginny a hesitant hug.

"The other Weasley isn´t coming?" he asks.

"He said he will come a bit later. If I got him right, he is bringing his girlfriend over," Ginny explains.

We all look at her, surprised. We all tried to set him up with someone, but it´s been quite some time since Ron was in relationship.

I lead my guests to the dining room, when the bell rings again. I hurry to open the door and I see my best friend hand-in-hand with a small blonde.

"Hermione," he greets me with a small smile.

"Ron," I breathe out and give him a hug.

"This is Catherine, my girlfriend. We have been together for over three weeks now," he introduces the young lady.

Catherine nervously steps in front of me and shakes my hand. "It´s nice to meet you."

"No, the pleasure is mine," I smile and hug her around shoulders to make her feel more comfortable. I like her from the very beginning.

We all sit behind the table. I notice the dinner is made out of simple dishes. I suppose every Draco´s attempt to make something complicated was in vain.

The evening continues without any troubles. Ginny and I drag Catherine into a conversation about clothes and shopping just to find out she is actually more into books. She is a shy, but lovely young woman and I think we will have no problems together in the future.

Draco, Harry and Ron are caught in a deep talk about Quidditch and other sports and I feel very happy that they aren´t arguing. Harry and Ron are laughing on Draco´s jokes and Draco now actually pats Ron´s shoulder.

I make a hot chocolate for everyone and wait for the right moment to say my little news.

And that´s when I feel like the time has come.

I knock with my spoon on my cup.

"Could everybody please listen? We have an announcement to make," I smile at Draco.

He raises his eyebrows. "We do?"

I laugh. "Okay, I have an announcement to make."

Haden runs into the room, giggling. He runs into me and exclaims: "Sorry, Mummy."

I hug him. "It´s okay, sweetie. But I have to ask you something. Do you like your room?"

I have everybody´s attention. Haden thinks about that. "Yes, Mummy. I like it very much."

"And how would you feel like sharing it?" I ask with wide smile.

There is a silence for a moment. Then, Ginny realizes what I meant.

"You... you are pregnant, aren´t you?" she exclaims. I nod. Ginny lets out a scream, mix of happiness and surprise. She runs towards me and hugs me tightly. Then Harry follows her and Ron as well. I look at Ron. I thought I´ll see a stern look, be he seems happy for me. It looks like Catherine really makes him happy.

Draco stands up. He looks at me.

"I´m sorry I didn´t tell you sooner," I whisper. I suddenly feel bad about keeping it from him.

He frowns. "I can´t believe you hid this from me."

"I know. I´m sorry. I wanted to make it special."

"This is...," he starts and I prepare for a freak out. "one of the best days in my entire life."

I look at him and see him smiling. Then he laughs and hugs me. I notice that not tightly. He is so careful around babies.

"You look really scared. What did you think? That I´ll be mad? Of course not. It´s amazing," he laughs and I do so as well. Ron hugs Catherine and Harry hugs Ginny. We all stay like this for a moment. Haden hugs me and Draco around hips. Little Lilly follows his example and wraps her hands around Harry and Ginny. I feel so happy. In a circle of friends and family.

"What sex it is?" asks Ginny.

"I don´t know yet. But considering it doesn´t kick my belly as a football player," I smile at Haden. "I think it´s a girl."

Draco has such a big smile I´m afraid he is going to hurt himself. "And then I´ll have two Hermiones, won´t I?"

I laugh and kiss him on the top of his nose. "Something like that, yes."

Few hours later everybody leaves. I hug all my friends and wish them good night. Baby in my belly kicks me a bit. I put my hands on it and I´m not the only one. Draco is standing behind me, hugs me and runs over my belly with his hand. He kisses me on my hair.

"I can´t even tell you how happy I am."

I turn around and give him a proper kiss on lips. It´s soft, but passionate. We face each other, foreheads together.

"I love you." he whispers.

"I love you more." I smile.

"Mummy?"

Haden is standing in the door, yawning. Draco kisses me on my cheek and moves to his son.

"Hey, buddy. Ready for bed?"

Little boy is so tired that he only weakly nods and let his Daddy to carry him. As they walk past me, Haden reaches out from Draco´s arms and hugs me around my neck.

"Goodnight, Mummy."

"Goodnight, sweetie. Have nice dreams." I kiss my son on his forehead and watch Draco carrying him to his room.

I walk to my study and sit behind the ebon table. I set the paper I´m writing on on the desk. I think for a second and then start to write again:

And that is actually the end of my story. It´s about making the decisions that lead you to the perfect life. My decisions were hard to make but now I know, that even if I would live thousands of lives, I would make these decisions again. I have a great job, beautiful home, one perfect son and another child on the way, loving friends and parents and at the top of all that, I have Draco. I don´t need to give him any adjectives. His name describes everything.

I´m not writing this story to gather fame or to make some cheap love story. I´m writing it to make sure that my children, their children and so on won´t make mistake I almost did. The most important advice I can give them is to listen to their hearts. When it comes to love, your mind may create many problems and dramas, but your heart will always tell you the right answer. If it tells you that you´re in love with someone, you must never listen to the influence of others. You can deal with everything later. Your mind gives you space, but your heart is mostly spontaneous. If you don´t trust it, right moment may pass and it might never come back. And eventually, if you do what your heart tells you to do...I don´t think you can ever regret that decision.

I most certainly will never regret mine.

Hermione Jean Malfoy