Hermione yelled and cheered as Ara scored another goal on Victorie; the score was currently 50 to 30 for the Malfoy's. Draco and Harry were playing seeker, while Victorie and Teddy played Keeper; James, Dominique and Louis were the chasers for Harry's team, and Ara, Gemini, and little Lyra played chaser for Draco. Harry was upset when Teddy had chosen to play for the Malfoy team, but he had insisted on being with Ara, claiming it would only be fair that way.
Andromeda and Hermione were on the ground watching the game; Hermione was worried for her youngest daughter as Lyra had only been on a broom a handful of times in the past but Draco had told her not to worry. He claimed each and every one of their girls had inherited his flying and Quidditch genes, and besides, he would be there to catch her if she fell, the outcome of the game be damned.
Currently she watched as her husband circled the small Qudditch field looking for the snitch; Teddy blocked a goal shot by Dominique as Hermione spotted Harry dive. She tried signalling to Draco that Harry had spotted something, but Draco wasn't looking her way, he was too focused on watching as Lyra got the Quaffle and shot it at the rings.
Just as Harry caught the snitch, the Quaffle went in the third ring. Lyra had scored on Victorie. Hermione yelled happily, running out to the field as Lyra squealed in excitement.
"Did you see that mummy? Did you see it?" Lyra asked as she landed on the ground. "I did it mummy, I did it!"
"You did wonderful darling!" Hermione said happily, "but my goodness I was so scared you were going to fall off that broom!"
"I told you not to worry Mione," Draco said, landing smoothly and scooping his daughter up, "you were amazing my little lovey." He kissed her head affectionately as everyone else landed around them, the snitch firmly in Harry's hand.
"Well," Harry said, "some things never change, eh Malfoy?"
"Potter, my little five year old daughter scored her first goal in Quidditch, I'd lose the World Cup just to see that again." Draco said, extending his hand, "Good game, Potter."
Harry looked at the hand in surprise, slowly reaching to take it, "You're girls are marvellous flyers Malfoy."
"Ara will be the star of her house team," Draco nodded.
"But I can't even play until I'm in second year, at least!" Ara pouted.
"Not necessarily," Harry said shaking his head, "I was captain of the Gryffindor team, and I began playing when I was in first year. First years even showed up to tryouts when I hosted them. There's nothing wrong with a first year being on the team if they're good enough."
"But I'm not allowed a broom,"
"I'll tell you what," Harry said, "I'll ask the headmistress to make a new rule, any first year willing to try out for Quidditch, who are serious enough about it, can have their parents meet them at the school the day of try outs with their broom. If they're accepted to the team, then they can keep their brooms. Sound good?"
Ara jumped excitedly, "Thank you Mr. Potter, thank you so much!"
"Can I be included in that?" James asked his father, eyes wide.
Harry laughed, "Yes James, even you can be included in that."
"We should get inside, it's beginning to get dark," Andromeda said, smiling at Harry.
"Ara, would you stay out here with me a moment?" Draco asked. She nodded and the two of them watched as everyone else filed inside. Once they were alone, Draco looked up at the sky, seemingly searching for something.
"I'm sorry we couldn't do this on your birthday, but a lot happened that night." Draco said as he scanned the sky. "Remember how we always look for our constellations in the stars? It's about the right time for us to do it. Would you like to?" He asked, finally looking down at his daughter.
Ara nodded happily; Draco sat down on the grass and she climbed onto his lap, the two of them raising their eyes to the stars.
"There's the big dipper," Draco said in a soft voice, "and the little dipper too, do you see it?"
"I do," Ara said in a voice just as soft, "Can you find mine yet?"
"Just give me one moment," Draco said as his eyes kept moving along. "There it is; do you see it?" he suddenly asked, pointing up at a cluster of stars. He traced them with his finger and Ara followed it, smiling softly.
"Tell me again why you named me Ara," she whispered, keeping her eyes on the constellation in the sky.
"The day before you're birth, your mother and I were star gazing, like we often did. We had originally planned on naming you Krystal, but that night your mother produced a book of constellations that she had bought that day and we made a game of trying to find them in the sky. Yours was the first one we spotted and as we looked at it, you're mother began to have contractions and the labour began. It only seemed fitting for you to be named after the stars we had just been looking at.
Ara smiled hearing the story of her naming, she felt so special to be named after something so romantic.
"And what about Gemini?"
"We named Gemini after my zodiac sign," Draco said, "My birthday, June 5th, lies under the Zodiac sign of the Gemini. If you ever read what a Gemini is, in terms of the Zodiac, your mother and I agreed it described me perfectly. It's ironic that Gemini is so much like I am. Her name suits her perfectly, I think."
"And Lyra?"
"Lyra is a constellation seen in August; Draco is one of the bordering constellations surrounding Lyra, and Ara is part of the Hercules family of constellations, the same family that Lyra is a part of. Your mother and I thought it was a beautiful name, and since it was associated with both your and mine constellation, it seemed to fit in with the family perfectly. Besides, the name means harp, which is my favourite musical instrument."
Ara sighed happily as she turned to look at her father's face, "I love the fact that you guys put so much thought into our names, it truly shows how important we are to you."
"Astronomy became a common interest for your mother and I, our first date was spent star gazing. We saw a shooting star that night," Draco sighed at the memory, "your mother was so excited, she had never seen one before. I'm always telling your mother that our future is written in the stars, as you girls are our future, and your names come from the stars."
"That's so romantic," Ara said, "I hope someday I can find a boy who will be as romantic as you are."
"You will, Ara," Draco said hugging his daughter closely. "You will."
Hermione walked out of the house to see her husband and daughter curled up together, looking at the stars. She couldn't help the smile that stretched across her face, and the happy tears that formed in her eyes.
"He's really changed." Hermione turned to see Harry standing there, watching her husband and daughter with curiosity in his eyes. "I never thought he could change."
"You never gave him a chance," Hermione whispered, "We were all affected by the war, Harry. Draco went through a lot, a lot more than you realize. It took him a long time for him to feel at ease with life again."
"I still don't understand how the two of you came to be together," Harry said, looking at Hermione.
"He saved my life Harry, the day you killed Voldemort, in the Great Hall. Bellatrix's husband was trying to kill me and Draco killed him to save me. Later, while we were back at Hogwarts, I cornered him, asking him why. He told me he did it for redemption. He wanted to redeem himself."
"I never knew,"
"That's because you never gave me the chance to explain, you walked out on me, followed Ron, and never bothered to return my Owls, so I gave up."
"I'm sorry Hermione," Harry whispered, lowering his eyes in shame. "I'm so sorry, for everything."
Hermione nodded, "I accept your apology Harry." She said, "All I want is to be a part of your life again, get to know your other children, get to know Ginny again. I've missed the lot of you."
"It was Ginny," Harry said, looking up at the stars, "she was the one who sent you that letter, telling you about Ron. She was so confused that day in Diagon Alley, she didn't know what to think or what to say. She had no idea what was going on. She wanted to speak to you but she didn't want to anger me; she's missed you so much Hermione."
"I suspected; When you return home tonight, Harry, have her Owl me. We'll set up a date together where our kids can get together and meet."
"I think she'd like that," Harry said. "I have to get James home now though. Thank you Hermione, for forgiving me so easily."
Hermione nodded and watched him walk back inside before turning her attention to Ara and Draco again. It hadn't been easy for her to let everything go, to forgive Harry for hurting her like he had, but she knew she had to, for the sake of her children.
A/N: Ok, what'd you guys think? I absolutely adore the star gazing scene between Draco and Ara, I was smiling softly the entire time I wrote it, it just made me happy!
I know many of you were probably expecting more written about the Qudditch Game, and I'm sorry if I disappointed you with it :( but I hope you enjoyed the chapter anyways!
I did my research when it came to the constellations, just so you know! I tried my damndest to find a way to connect the names to each other, and I did! The whole reason I chose the names in the beginning was they sounded pretty, I never knew they actually connected! But yes, I did do my homework for this chapter!
Just a note, I am currently struggling with chapter 16, therefore there may be less frequent updates (as in the typical Weekend one rather than 2 or 3 times a week!) I hope you all understand, but I've gotten to a difficult part of the story and I want to write it the best I possibly can, and it's become rather challenging for me. I know exactly what I want, but for some reason it's not getting on paper like I wish it would. But no worries, I will get past this and, hopefully, fulfill all of your wishes with the story!
Just a thought, is there anything in particular any of you want to see happen in this story? I've had 2 requests so far and I've managed to include those but if any has anything else, please feel free to let me know! I love input! Plus, if you have a wish and I grant it, you get a shout out when that chapter is posted!
Alright, this has been a long Authors Note, so I will conclude it with... Please review!
*Edit* a review pointed out that it wasn't Astrology it was Astronomy.. sorry for the mix up...however you didn't need to be so rude about it -.-' anyways it's been fixed!