Friday, 26 June 2026

Draco was finally able to step away from his guests. He quickly made his way through the crowd of gathered former Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins at their home to celebrate all the students who finished their schooling at Hogwarts, looking for his wife.

Once he spotted her, he took a moment to really look at the woman she had become. Her hair was still wild and curly, and while there were some grey hairs around her temples, most of her hair was still the dark brown it had been when they were in school. Her body, Merlin did he love her body. She may have blessed him with four brilliant children, but she worked hard to maintain her health so she could keep up with their children and all of her patients at St. Mungo's. Draco smirked-Hermione's fitness regimen was well rounded, including spending quality time with him.

Seeing that she was free of adult conversation, he came around behind her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "So, did I ever make it up to you?"

Hermione looked over shoulder at him, smiling at the still handsome wizard she saw. Almost seventeen years may have passed since the time their twins were born, but her husband definitely aged as well as the rest of the males in his family. "Make what up to me?"

"For knocking you up the first time around."

She laughed. "Oh yes, you more than made up for it."

Draco grinned. "Good. It's about time I did something right."

Hermione smirked. "Took you long enough."

"Hey! You're not supposed to agree with me!"

"Well, when you're right, how can I not agree with you?" Hermione turned in his arms and patted Draco's cheek. Smiling softly, she continued, "Yes, you more than made up for how things started out between us. You invited us into your home and introduced me to my two favourite Malfoys."

"Hey! What about me?"

Hermione smirked. "What about you? You're just my husband, but Emeny and Emeric? They're so much more. They've helped me wade through the churning waters of Pureblood society…" She trailed off, laughing at Draco's frown. She kissed his cheek. "You know you mean the world to me, my love, as do our children and your parents. I'm just so thankful for your gift of their portrait when we brought the twins home originally."

Draco leaned down, resting his forehead against Hermione. "You're welcome, Bluebell."

The couple fell silent. The brunette witch sighed as she basked in the quiet bubble surrounding the two of them.

The high-pitched sound of a child's gleeful laughter broke their silence. Hermione shimmied out of his embrace, looking around. "Now, where did your son run off to?"

Draco laughed, "Which one?"

"Which one do you think?"

"Well, I doubt you're talking about Xavier."

"No, of course not, I'm talking about your son Neacail. You know, the son that looks and acts exactly like you at that age? Xavier, on the other hand, is over talking with Louis and Dominique." Hermione nodded behind him, pointing out where their eldest son was indeed talking with Louis and Dominique, his light brown hair falling in wild waves into his dark, chocolate brown eyes.

As the pair observed the trio, Hermione noticed that the conversation seemed to be just between Xavier and Dominique, as Louis was now staring across the yard at Karishma. "Now, that's a pair I wasn't expecting, but they make a good match."

"Who? Louis and Karishma?"

"Well, of course! I've known for years that Xavier and Dominique have been carrying a torch for each other. Why would they surprise me?"

Draco's eyes widened, turning to fully watch his son. "Our son and Dominique? Are you sure?"

"Oh Draco, of course I am. I'm his mother, I even know who our darling daughter is seeing." She hid a smirk, continuing to talk before her husband could say anything. "You know, Xavier follows you in regards to the girls he likes."

"He does?" Draco questioned, following Hermione's last comment.

"Yes, he has a thing for older women."

"But…"

"Yes, Draco dear?"

"Xavier and Dominique? But she's—"

Hermione put her hand up, silencing her husband. "She's five years older than him, yes. Does that make a difference? No. Dominique is a delightful young woman that you and I have known since the day she was born. You were in the delivery room when she was born as part of your training; remember?"

"Yes, I was, but I…" Draco trailed off again, looking at his wife.

"Oh, my love, my Silver Dragon, you have been so oblivious to our children's hearts, haven't you?" Hermione kissed his cheek. "What am I going to do with you when you find out that our little Elysia is dating—"

"Mum, Dad, may we talk to you for a moment?" Right on time, their daughter showed up and she wasn't alone. Elysia Malfoy had her mother's height and looked almost exactly like she did at seventeen, with two exceptions. Her pale blonde hair and her light blue eyes. While the young wizard standing next to her, was taller than Draco and his bright blue/green eyes stood out against his dark brown hair.

Kissing her daughter's cheek, Hermione nodded. "Of course, dear. What did you need to talk about?"

A light blush stained Elysia's cheeks. She looked at the young man standing to her left; he grasped her hand and nodded. Turning back to face her parents, Elysia smiled. "Mum, Dad, I would like to introduce you to Liam Morris, my," her smile widened, "my boyfriend. Liam, my parents, Draco and Hermione Malfoy."

The young dark-haired wizard held out his hand to Draco. "It's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, sir."

Draco stared flabbergasted at the young man before him. As the point of Hermione's elbow dug into his side, Draco jolted into action, woodenly shaking Liam's hand. He nodded at Liam silently.

Taking Draco's silence in stride, Liam turned to Hermione. Bending over her outstretched hand, he pressed a chaste kiss to her knuckles. "Thank you for inviting me today. You have a beautiful home and I'm pleased to finally meet you."

Hermione smiled at her daughter's boyfriend. "The pleasure is all ours, Liam. We've heard quite a bit about you from Elysia and I look forward to getting to know you more."

"We have?" Draco mumbled, looking at his wife.

"You'll have to excuse my husband." Hermione smiled at the young wizard standing next to her daughter. "Apparently he doesn't pay as much attention to what's around him when it comes to our children and those they love as he thinks he does."

Liam nodded in reply, his eyes widening a little before slipping a questioning sidelong glance at Elysia. "Yes, Mrs Malfoy. Just, uh, owl me when a good time will be to talk."

"That sounds lovely, thank you, Liam."

As the young couple walked away, Draco stared after them. "Elysia and Liam? But she's…he's—"

"Oh Draco, please don't." Hermione sighed, poking her husband in the shoulder. "Yes, he's older than her, by six months, barely. Yes, Liam is a half-blood, and a Slytherin just like you, but most importantly, yes, he loves our daughter. I've known about their relationship for the past nine months. Her hints may not have been obvious in her letters, but their relationship was laid out right in front of you." She stood on tiptoes to whisper in his ear. "Plus he has impeccable manners, which is more than I can say for you."

"Hey!" Draco exclaimed.

Hermione smirked, turning her husband around. "Don't give me that, you know it's true. Now, get your head out of your arse and go find your youngest son and tell him to stop pestering Harry and Luna's youngest children." Her husband opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off before he could say anything. "I know how much you love to torment Harry and Ron, but passing that gene on to your son? Honestly, it's no surprise that he was always in trouble during his first year. Go before I find your son first."

She gave him a swat on his bum to get him going. Once Draco was out of earshot, Hermione turned to her youngest and cancelling the boundary spell, she lifted her from where she had been playing safely and grinned. The little girl's dark eyes took in the new sights that now being in Hermione's arms offered her, and her light brown ringlets bounced merrily as she wiggled in her mum's arms. "Men," Hermione muttered, chuckling at just how much her husband had missed.

"Men!" Little four-year-old Aurnia exclaimed, clapping her hands together, happily.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for taking the time to read through my little tale and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it!

For those of you who are curious, here are the meanings of Draco and Hermione's children's names:

Elysia Thalassa (17)- Elysia is of Latin origin and means 'blissful heaven,' Thalassa is of Greek origin, meaning 'the sea,' it is also a satellite of Neptune.

Xavier Pavo (17)- Xavier is of Latin origin and means 'the new house' or 'saviour,' Pavo is Latin for 'peacock,' it is also a small constellation in the Southern sky between Ara and Tucana.

Neacail (12) is the Scottish form of Nicholas, meaning 'victorious people.'

Aurnia (4) is the Irish form of Aurelia, meaning 'golden.'