HPOV

"Why don't you come with us mummy?"

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, "I told you, I've got some things to take care of for the bakery."

She frowned and walked over to the front door, putting her shoes on, while I spoke to Draco.

"If he so much as thinks something derogatory towards Rose I will hex his arse into next week. Got it?"

He nodded and pulled me into a hug, "I know. And I'm not going to let him say anything about you either. I promise Love."

"Alright, I'll see you tonight then."

Without another word I grabbed my wand and apparated over to Luna's.

I had, albeit reluctantly, given them free reign over the advertising for the bakery, so I was excited to see what they had come up with.

And a little more than eager to try and get thoughts of Lucius and his disapproval of me out of my head. Although it didn't seem to be working all that well.

"Alright, so the first idea is fireworks." started Ginny. "We thought that we could charm them so they'd spell out the name of the bakery or something."

I raised an eyebrow, "It would have to be dark out, so not many people will be able to see that."

Ginny frowned and said, "Alright, well what about if we host a little party, send out some invitations-"

"Then we run into the same problem." said Luna, moving over to join us at her kitchen table.

"Exactly. Having a party is a great idea, but we would need people, and to have people we need advertisement. So we're back to square one." I said in agreement.

Ginny sighed, "Well do you two have any ideas?"

Luna was quiet for a moment before she said, "Well we all know people we could invite...but what about Draco? He's got to have connections to tons of people."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "I don't think the connections he has are going to be willing to come to a bakery in muggle London."

"You never know. He could have some decent people hiding around somewhere."

"It's not like all his friends are terrible." Added Ginny. "I mean think of Blaise."

I sighed, "I'll ask."

We were quiet for a moment before Luna said, "They're with Lucius aren't they?"

I looked into her wise-beyond-her-years eyes and nodded. "And I'm happy, it's just...I feel like I'm the odd man out because he doesn't accept me."

Ginny scowled, "That bigoted Pureblood bastard."

I chuckled lightly and shrugged, "This isn't about me. It's about Rose, and if she's happy being at Malfoy Manor with Lucius, regardless of whether I'm there or not, I'm okay with it."

"He'll come around." said Luna, a slight smile ghosting over her features.

"You think?"

"I saw how he looked at that little girl of yours. Things might be changing. Slowly but surely."

I simply nodded, I knew Luna never came right out and said something, because that's just not the way it was with her. You had to figure things out on your own, she was simply there to provide reassurance when you thought it was pointless to keep trying.

"Mum was asking about you." said Ginny.

I instantly felt guilty. I hadn't seen Molly or the rest of the family in quite some time, which was strange because I never missed our weekly dinners.

"Well tell her that I'll come by this weekend for dinner like we used to do."

Ginny smiled, "It's been weird without you there." As an afterthought she turned to Luna and said, "You should come too. The more the merrier."

"I'd love to." she said, a serene look on her face. It was moments like these where I really wanted to know what went on in her head, because she had a tendency to posses such an inner calm that was baffling to me...and to everyone else for that matter.

"Ohh so tell us how Draco liked the lingerie!" squealed Ginny.

Luna smiled, as if snapped out of her daze, and said, "Yes, do tell."

I groaned, "I don't want to talk about it."

"He loved it didn't he?" said a smug looking Ginny.

I let out a long sigh, figuring that it would be easier to appease her need to know the details of my sex life than it would be to argue with her.

"Yes, he loved it."

"I knew he would." said Luna quietly.

"Gods, who wouldn't love you in that. If you weren't my best friend-and a girl-I'd have taken you home myself." said Ginny, a smile on her face.

I couldn't help but laugh and Luna did too.

This is what I needed. To just spend some time with friends and take my mind off of everything else. It was absolutely perfect.

"So how are you and Blaise?" asked Ginny, looking to Luna while I poured us more tea.

Luna had a soft smile on her face, but I could see something behind her eyes. Confusion? I knew that look.

"We're good."

"How long have you two been dating?"

"We're not." she said simply.

I raised an eyebrow, but Ginny was not so subtle in her surprise.

"What? You guys look so comfortable together and-"

"We are comfortable together." she said, looking out the window, "We just haven't felt the need to put a label on...whatever it is that we're doing."

I knew that feeling. Draco and I, for the first six months of our relationship at Hogwarts, had done nothing but duck and hide and find any excuse to not put a label on what we were.

Then again that was different.

"Do you want to put a label to it?" I asked.

She seemed to consider this for a while, her gaze never leaving the window, "Not if it ruins what we already have. I don't need the title of being called his girlfriend to know that he cares about me. Besides, he hasn't exactly had the easiest time with relationships, so I understand."

And I knew she wasn't lying. Because lying just wasn't something Luna did. I doubted it was even in her nature, that she was even capable of it.

Ginny sighed, "Who hasn't had trouble with relationships."

I snorted and they both looked at me, apologetic smiles on their faces.

"It's okay, I get it. I am probably the epitome of a troubled relationship." I said with an amused smile.

Ginny rolled her eyes, "But look how well it's going now."

I nodded, aside from a few bumps and hangups, she was right. Everything was going extremely well...I just could seem to stop waiting for the 'shoe to drop' or so to speak.

Because it seemed like no matter how great something was going in my life, something always happened to ruin it for me.

And when I arrived home I found out exactly what it was.

DPOV

"You did what?" I asked, barely keeping my temper in check. Had it not been for Rose sitting on my lap I'm sure I would have launched myself at him.

My father sat across from me, a superior smirk on his face that reminded me of exactly where I'd gotten mine from. "You heard me. It was only for the best. Now you, Rose and Asto-"

"Mother, would you please take Rose outside?" I asked through clenched teeth.

She nodded and stood quickly, picking her up and walking outside.

"This isn't going to make me leave her."

"No," he said, a cold sneer on his face, "But it might just make her leave you."

The thought alone made my heart clench. The mere possibility that Hermione would believe what the article printed had me feeling as if I was going to be sick.

Although I wouldn't blame her for believing it. It did look rather convincing, and add in the fact that I'd left her for the very woman in the picture...it was a very real possibility that she would believe it.

"You make me sick." I spat.

"The feeling is mutual son." he said, his voice taunting. "But regardless of that, I think you'd love to see the article. Rita really outdid herself this time."

"The story is complete shit."

"Of course it is, but that doesn't matter." he said, tossing the newspaper onto my lap.

Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass Together Again

We have it on good authority that Mr. Malfoy and Miss Greengrass will be reconciling their marriage, even after Draco's fling with the Golden Trio's own Hermione Granger. After finding out that Hermione Granger had kept the secret for five years that her daughter Rose was in fact his daughter, out of pure duty and selfless devotion to his daughter, he stayed with Miss Granger, but finding that he could no longer "tolerate her incessant babbling" as he told us, he has decided to reunite with his ex wife. We wish the two the best of luck!

Beneath the article there was a picture that had been taken of Astoria and I quite some time before while we were still married, kissing one another in a restaurant.

Never in my life had I ever been as furious with my father. He'd done terrible things, ruined my happiness and my mother's happiness countless times, but this time he had simply gone too far.

This didn't just hurt me, it hurt Hermione, and that, that was not okay.

"You son of a bitch." I said, standing up and tossing the paper at him.

His eyes flashed in anger and the second he drew his wand, I had mine out as well.

"Look at you, defending some worthless Mudblood."

"That is the mother of my child," I said, casting a shielding spell to block the hex he'd sent at me, firing back one of my own.

"How you let that happen in the first place is completely beyond me. But I am willing to move past it. Your daughter does have the Malfoy genes in her after all."

"And the more I hang around here, the sorrier I get about that."

His eyes narrowed and he sent three more hex's my way, and I blocked all of them.

I could tell I was pissing him off, and the one thing he told me was to never let your emotions get the better of you in a fight.

"She has tainted your daughter, the one heir you have in this world, and turned her into a dirty little-"

I flicked my wand and said, "Expelliarmus!"

His wand flew from his hand and I cast a binding spell on him, rooting him to the spot.

I walked over to him slowly, deliberately, "If you ever think about calling Rose or Hermione that disgusting, vile name again, I will do more than hex you to this spot. Understood?"

I wasn't expecting an acknowledgment. I knew my father too well, so I turned on my heel and stepped outside. The second I did my mother was by my side.

"Are you alright?" her eyes were glassy and I pulled her into a hug, something that I didn't think I'd done in a very long time.

"I'm fine...but do you think you can watch Rose for a few hours? I have to go clean up this mess."

She smiled and turned to Rose who who was staring at the two of us intently. I couldn't decipher it, but she stood and moved closer to us.

"What do you think about staying here with me for a few hours?"

Rose's eyes flicked inside to Lucius and she shook her head.

"No,"

"Oh sweetie-"

"I want to go to Auntie Ginny's." she said, her eyes never leaving Lucius who was still frozen in place, but for how long I had no idea.

"But-"

"It's alright mother, I'll apparate her over there before going home." I said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She nodded and retreated into the house, not giving my father a second glance as she headed up the stairs.

I turned to Rose and knelt down in front of her.

"Are you alright?"

She finally looked to me and smiled, as if nothing was wrong. "Of course silly. Come on, Auntie Ginny said James got a new toy!"

I chuckled slightly, not fooled about what was going on. Luna had said herself that Rose was a bright girl, especially if she really had apparated, so I had no doubt that she knew at least part of what was going on.

I took her hand and apparated to Potter's house.

~OoOoOoOoOoOoO~

"You're lucky I don't bash your face in!"

I ducked as Ginny through a vase at me.

She had clearly seen the paper. Which meant Hermione had seen the paper. Which meant I was so beyond fucked it was almost comical.

Almost.

"I thought I told you to do it right this time you big bumbling idiot!" she shrieked, launching yet another vase in my direction.

"It's not what it looks like, just let me explain!"

She stopped mid-throw and eyed me wearily, "Alright, explain."

"I went to my the Manor because my father said he wanted to see Rose, and that's when he started grumbling on about blood purity and then he showed me this article that he got Rita to print and-"

She chucked the vase in her hand and said, "Yeah, that's a likely story. Do you know how crushed Hermione is right now? She-"

"He's not lying Auntie Ginny." said Rosie from the staircase.

We both looked over at her and Ginny squinted, "What do you mean?"

"Daddy's not lying." she repeated, smiling at me.

I had completely forgotten that she had heard the first part of our conversation, and depending on how loud the argument had gotten she might very well have heard all of it.

Ginny's gaze flicked back and forth between Rose and I before she sighed and flicked her wand, sending the broken shards back into their original shape.

"I'm sorry," she said sitting down on the couch.

Just then James came down the stairs and said, "Is it safe to ask if Uncle Ron can take us out to the park? I want to show Rosie the broom you got me."

I smiled and watched as Rose's face lit up, and Ginny turned to me, "Is that alright with you? Ron's really good with them and-"

"It's fine." I said easily.

She nodded to James and he took Rosie's hand, pulling her out the front door to where I assumed Weaselbee would be waiting.

"Your father is a royal arse." she said slowly.

I let out a long sigh and agreed with her. "What am I going to do? I doubt she's even going to listen to me."

"I have an idea." she said, standing up and picking up her cell phone.

She dialed a number and a few seconds later Hermione picked up.

"Ginny?" her voice sounded different, as if she'd been crying.

Fuck.

"Mione, I just saw Draco,"

"I hope you-"

"Just listen," she interrupted softly. "He can explain, he really can."

"What? You're on his side now? He lies Ginny. It's what he does. It's what he always does." There was a slight pause before she whispered, "He never loved me did he?"

Her voice was so broken, it was literally killing me. And the fact that she was so completely and utterly wrong had me a bit pissed off.

"Hermione Jean Granger you know that is not true." admonished Ginny. "That boy loves you more than anything, and if you let him explain, then you'd see that."

There was a quiet sigh before she replied, "How am I supposed to believe him?"

"Easy, your daughter says he's telling the truth."

She was quiet for so long that I though she'd hung up, but then she said, "Alright...tell him to come over."

With that she hung up, and I was eternally grateful for Ginny.

"Thank you,"

HPOV

I heard the sound of apparition and turned away from the kitchen counter and faced him. I knew I must look awful. I'd been crying and breaking things since the moment I read that stupid article.

"Hermione,"

I closed my eyes. "Just explain."

"When we went over there today he started talking about blood purity, and how you weren't right for me, and then he told me about the paper he had Rita write so that you'd leave me and I would get back with Astoria." he said, and if I didn't know any better I would say that his voice actually sounded scared.

But of what?

I shook my head, "I can't do this."

"Hermione, please. Rose can tell you that the paper was complete bullshit. My father admitted it and-"

"That's not why." I said quietly, taking a step towards him despite myself. "I don't doubt what you're telling me, but I can't handle this. The constant animosity that's going to be there. I thought I could handle it. I thought that for Rose and Narcissa and you, that I could just suck it up and deal with it, but I can't. This article proved that he's not changing his mind about me anytime soon, and if I have to put up with these stupid fucking articles," I took a breath, reminding myself to slow down. "I just can't."

"Then we won't have contact with him. Hermione I'll do anything." he pleaded, his eyes shiny.

Why were they shiny?

I shook the thought away and said, "Maybe we just aren't meant to be. There are so many challenges and roadblocks-I mean your own father wants nothing to do with me, and will obviously do anything he needs to to get me out of the picture-"

"I don't care about that." he said, pulling me closer to him.

I closed my eyes at the feel of his arms around me, slowly lulling me back into that feeling of comfort that only seemed to come when he was near.

"I care about it." I said quietly.

He tilted my face up to look at him as he said, "I am not letting you walk away from me. I love you and I love Rose and I love the idea of having a family with you, and if I have to pack up and move you to America to keep you mine, you better believe that I will." he said, his voice strong as steel.

"Your family-"

"Fuck them." he spat. "If they can't put aside their opinions and just let me be happy, I don't need them, and neither does Rose."

I took a shaky breath. I wasn't convinced at any of this. Our relationship had been trouble from that very first kiss in the library, and it seemed to only get harder.

"I don't know if I can handle any more obstacles." I said quietly.

"You don't have to face them alone. I'm here Love." he whispered against my ear.

And just like that I was a goner. I should have known it from the very first second I laid eyes on Draco Malfoy that he would be the one to keep my heart and hold onto it in his iron grip.

What I didn't expect was for him to give me his in exchange.

"I love you." he said, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"I love you too." I said quietly.

I felt his arms tighten around me, still not used to hearing me say it back to him since it happened so infrequently.

"So...are we okay?" he asked cautiously.

I looked up at him and stared into his silver eyes, trying to read what was behind them, but as usual he was good at hiding what he was feeling, or maybe I was just clueless when it came to him.

Which was a very real possibility.

He trailed his thumb across my bottom lip and whispered, "Please say yes."

I closed my eyes and parted my lips slightly, and before I knew it his mouth had replaced his thumb. Ever so softly he pressed his lips to mine, as if testing out whether or not I was okay with it.

He leaned back slightly and I whispered, "Yes,"

He smiled from ear to ear and picked me up, spinning me in a circle, before placing me back down on my feet and kissing me again, firmly this time.

"Happy?" I asked, my voice breathless.

"I was really worried." he admitted, his voice soft.

"Worried about what?"

"Losing you. I don't think you get how much I love you Princess." he said, nipping the sensitive skin behind my ear.

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

He pulled back and looked at me, "What are you sorry for?"

"Making you doubt that I want to be with you...making you doubt that I'd stay." I said. I felt guilty...I really did. It's not that I didn't love Draco, and it's not even that I didn't trust him.

It was simply the fact that every time things were going good, someone seemed to throw a wrench in it, and I didn't know if it was fair to him, to Rose, or to myself to continue to put ourselves through this.

But then I'd look at him, and how happy he made me and Rose, and I literally couldn't picture my days without him there.

"Oh come on," he said, that confident smirk on his face again, "There's no way you could leave me."

I chuckled and brought his face down to mine, "I think it's you who can't leave me."

He smiled and moved his hands to my waist, "I think you're right."

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