A/N: So the prophecy is finally sort of explained and Riddle is chastised! Enjoy this. I know this is kind of a filler chapter, but I needed to situate them in their present life before starting the explosive drama again. It all begins in the next chapter.

I'm updating earlier because today is my sister's birthday. So this chapter is dedicated to her.

Thank you to: Jade2099, semantics, pardonnez and Alexybath for reviewing

Chapter 31: Winding Up and Down

Hermione: Five Years Later

It was an unfortunate fact of life that having boys as your best friends and influences can cause you to form negative habits. Having lived my teenage life with Ron and Harry, then later spent the rest of my life with Draco, I generally became less of the pristine book worm student and more like...them. It couldn't be denied and frankly, I just wasn't going to bother doing so because Draco would take to calling me a hypocrite for hours. Or days. Or even months if nothing interesting were to happen to distract him.

That's right. I, Hermione Malfoy, am a tardy woman.

It started off as a once in a while thing that happens occasionally from time to time. It's absolutely nothing to be alarmed over, obviously. Even I am a human and I can sometimes be late, right? But then suddenly, I became perpetually late to everything.

Frankly, I blame having kids.

The experience does something to you that you can't explain to anyone else, but other women with children will agree with you. Suddenly, you're scatterbrained and disorganized and it doesn't even matter to you that you're scatterbrained and disorganized. For some reason, the only thing that interests you is chocolate, your weight, and ten minutes of quiet time. You start wish you hadn't sent the house elf to work at Hogwarts.

Draco says he still loves me, even more so now, but I'm suspicious. I think he's only staying around because our son is his pride and joy. I bet you one day I'll wake up and he'll have kidnapped the boy and left me behind to mope.

Yes, that's right. I am a mother. I have a little chocolate haired, silver eyed monkey named Scorpius who likes to cling to my leg when he's afraid. And yes, he's very much afraid right now, which doesn't help because we're already so late.

Draco however, found the little child's antics very amusing, but he had the decency to look chastised when I glare daggers at him.

"I don't want to go mummy, please! Papa make mum stop! I shan't! I shan't, I shan't, I shan't!"

"You shall, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy! You shall! Get in the car, now!" But he wouldn't listen. Instead he just clung to my leg harder and I couldn't do anything about it. He had gotten too strong for me. Or had I just become abysmally weak?

In fact, I knew the only way Scorpius would get in the car was if Draco would make him in the loving way he had. But no. Draco was having too much fun watching me struggle.

Unfortunately for me, Harry Potter's children were evil brats. Not that I didn't love evil brats – I married one, for God's sake! – But they had to be put into place, really, they did. When they had come to visit a few days ago, they had poisoned my poor innocent Scorpius' mind. The boy honestly believed that kindergarten was a torture chamber and muggle children wanted to make soup out of his brains.

I was really going to have to have a word with Ginny.

Eventually, when I gave Draco a desperate look, he finally intervened on my behalf. He picked our little monkey up into his arms and kissed him on each cheek. Scorpius smiled widely, as if he'd won the argument. "You're not going to make me go, papa, are you?" he asked in such an innocent voice, I was almost compelled to let him go back to bed.

Draco shook his head, still smiling. "No, I'm not going to make you go, sweetheart."

Scorpius looked extremely relieved, even when Draco strapped him into the back seat of the car. He was very trusting of his father, something I was just a little enviable of. But then again, if Draco had told me to jump off a cliff, I probably would have as well, automatically assuming he would catch me or levitate me back out.

When we had started driving, I wondered what his plan was or if he even had one. I would hate to be one of those parents leaving behind a sobbing child on their first day of school. Of course they were children, but didn't they know? Education is the key to success! Besides, school is fun. Work and adulthood is not.

"You know, Hermione," Draco began, startling me out of my thoughts, "I wish my parents let me go to school with muggles! Just like you had gone, wasn't it so much fun? I hear it's an adventure. It's really too bad Scorpius here doesn't want to go. If he had we both would have such wonderful stories to hear, wouldn't we?"

Looking back, I found Scorpius chewing thoughtfully on his lip, contemplating his options.

"I wasn't brave enough like mum here to go to school," Draco said, addressing Scorpius. When he looked at his son through the rear view mirror, I guess he'd already realized he had accomplished what I'd failed miserably at.

"I'm brave, papa!"

Draco chuckled his attractive chuckle. "Are you, my son? We'd love a story."

"Okay. I'll go!" he exclaimed decidedly. "Let's go, let's go!" Scorpius shouted, nearly bouncing in his seat. Well, there was reverse psychology if I'd ever seen any.

Viewing my son's smiling face and my husband's happy smile, I rolled my eyes, leaned back in my seat, and bit the inside of my cheek to stop from smiling myself. I was still cross with the both of them after all. Scorpius for being disobedient and Draco for... well, being Draco, I suppose.

"Go where?" Draco asked, putting on a look of mock confusion. This time, I couldn't stop the smile from spreading onto my face. Draco winked at me and I stuck out my tongue, making sure Scorpius didn't note the action, lest he start imitating.

"To school!" the boy nearly shrieked, clearly overexcited at the prospect of having brave adventures to tell us about. I vaguely wondered if he'd be disappointed, but shook the thought away. Kindergarten was meant to be fun. "I'm going to school," he stated so confidently, that I was nearly shocked. It was an almost perfect imitation of Draco.

"You said you shan't go, my darling, remember?" I piped in. "So we shan't go and that's that. How about...the park?" Scorpius pouted.

"I want to go to school, not the park!"

"If the boy wants to go to school, he shall. But you must remember that you said you wanted this, Scorpius," said Draco, while making a left turn. I realized we had already arrived and in fact, we were five minutes early. How had he done it? I was almost tempted to ask him if he had used magic, but could come up with no possible magical explanation other than time travel.

I still couldn't get over the fact that Draco was a better driver than I was. I was going to have to eventually get over it... but it really is not fair. He was even better at cooking these days than I was because Scorpius made my mind frazzle.

We walked him to his class, in which he immediately ran in and introduced himself to everyone, much to the chagrin of his teacher who had been in mid sentence. Yes, he was definitely his father's son, if that attitude was anything to go by. He was adorable, no doubt, claiming the seat closest to the middle and refusing to take off his little Spider Man back pack. Rather than just leave immediately, we stood there and watched our son settle in.

Draco reached for my hand eventually, and I reached up to kiss him lightly. I'm not sure why I had the compulsion to cry. This was the day I was meant to be happy. In fact, I was supposed to be proud or something, right?

My son was growing up. He wasn't a baby anymore. Sooner or later, I would have to explain to everyone that no – I'm not an overprotective mama bear. Fate's just trying to use my son for something, but it chose the wrong woman to mess with.

No seriously, fate? If you're listening, back the fuck off the toddler in the little yellow t-shirt or I will drop kick you in the nut sack. Got it? Great!

Yes, I don't sleep much. Any other questions?

/

School, apparently, is a very exciting place to be for a little boy. I, myself, hardly remember it to be that exciting. It seems like ages ago that I had even been at Hogwarts, let alone kindergarten. I could barely remember it now...

It was at the very edges of my mind.

Yes, I had a feeling that me as a toddler wasn't the happy picture Scorpius clearly is. I probably had none of the excitement my little baby exudes, so I'm sure he gets that from his arrogant father. I must have been an introverted child. Have you ever even heard of an introverted four year old? I would have to ask my mother. My father wouldn't remember such things at his stage of old age...

We had decided to take Scorpius to the park after school since Draco had taken the day off of work anyways. As for myself, well, I worked as an editor now only. I preferred it, personally, because I enjoyed being at home with my son.

Pause for reaction. Hermione Granger giving up her job for child rearing? I know.

A lot of the wizarding world approved of this decision, though. I remember the high profile articles that had ran all week in the papers when I had stepped down from my position at Malfoy Industries. The older generation approved that I was going to be home to raise my son with the "proper values a mother should pass down to her young," as an old pureblood witch had put it – and yet, I was appeasing the younger generation by retaining some sort of prestigious employment.

Have I mentioned that I had started writing textbooks that had been published all around the world? No, I suppose I haven't. I did say I was becoming a scatterbrain! This had been my calling all along and I just hadn't been aware of it. My friends said I was living up to the title of "smartest witch of our age" and getting paid for it, too.

But hey, I'm not complaining. I do get paid a large some for being a know-it-all, after all. I knew all that reading would pay off one day.

As I sat on a blanket spread out on vibrant green grass with my dreadfully long manuscript, I watched my husband and son chase each other. They were laughing, rosy cheeked and out of breath when they finally reached me. Draco pulled Scorpius up and sat him over his shoulders and they both grinned down at me. The sun nearly blinded me, when I looked up at Draco's very light blonde hair, which Scorpius clutched tightly.

"Papa's going to take me to the swings, mum!"

I let them go, much to Scorpius' delight, as Draco Malfoy ever so cheerfully took his son to play in a muggle park. The image was a conflicting kind. On the one hand, my mind still remembered the cold, snobby little brat from Hogwarts. The other saw the superiorly loving man I had come to know over the past many years. Even though our son was already four, seeing him interact with Scorpius like that just boggled my mind.

Draco was nothing like his father and it was sexy as hell. Can you imagine? Falling head over heels for the guy you're already married to.

Even though I'd never ever admit such a thing to the smug bastard, you had to admit he was absolutely gorgeous. He looked devilishly handsome when he was so indulgent of his son. I just watched. And what a sight it was to behold, indeed! They were beautiful and I don't think I'd ever get enough of their smiling, happy faces.

They were my love, my life. My heart clenched at the prospect of them being involved in something fate had planned for us. While I had not exactly figured out what role my darling angel was to play in the prophecy that haunted both Draco and I – I knew he was the missing party. I had sworn to myself on the day he was born, the first minute of his breathing and little beating heart in my arms, that I would not let any harm befall him.

After all, the visions had only depicted my death, and I was alright with that development so long as Scorpius was unharmed.

Riddle had taken to strongly assuring me that Scorpius didn't seem to be in any danger, at least not in the foreseeable future. And as the foreseeable future in the perspective of a dead person is... well, quite long indeed, it should have quelled all notions of fear in me.

But it didn't.

Riddle and I had developed a rocky relationship since his little perverted sex dream scheme in order to have me pledge my loyalties to him. It had lasted pretty much all through my pregnancy. However, it was safe to say that me pushing him off the astronomy tower repeatedly for a year had chastised him sufficiently. And if it hadn't, well, it felt quite bloody good doing it anyways.

Don't mess with a pregnant woman. They're violent!

But he had practically forced me to have a threesome in my head! It's very justified, I tell you! Besides, who wouldn't want to throw Lord Voldemort out of a tower? People would probably line up for the opportunity. In fact, that sounds like quite the business opportunity...

But eventually, I'd gotten over it. Mostly it was because Scorpius had been born and he had practically occupied my life to the maximum capacity. There was no room to be angry and violent towards a dead person, especially when it takes that much effort.

Though, when I had finally gotten around to asking him why he had chosen such a perverted method of attempting to get me back to the dream world – his answer hadn't been really...sufficient.

/

"I'm very limited here, you know. The dead don't have super powers, you realize that I hope," he said arrogantly. He wasn't apologetic, not in the least. Though, to be fair, I had pushed him off the astronomy tower 389 times already by this point.

"Yes, I know! But you could have sent me a nightmare, or something, instead!"

He raised an eyebrow. "That was not a nightmare to you?" Grinning at my blush and resulting glare, he continued to answer. "Besides, you wouldn't be so very eager to spend time with me if I had given you horrible nightmares."

He had a point, but barely.

"True. But I've seen all the horrible things you're capable of already," I said rather carelessly. His face darkened, but I took no notice. "Why would you want me to come back so badly, anyways?"

His answer was immediate, almost rehearsed. I imagined he'd had enough time to rehearse it. "You might not put any value into this prophecy being carried out the way it was meant to," he said haughtily, raising his chin, "but to me it is rather important. I don't take well to failure, especially where Albus Dumbledore is concerned!"

I couldn't help but laugh at his sour expression.

"Don't be silly, Riddle. I hardly need to come here every day for the prophecy to work out how it should," I remarked, still smiling. He paused, as if the observation had caught him off guard – which, in retrospect, it probably had. But he shook it off as quickly as it had come.

"It gets lonely here sometimes, I'll admit," he started. His voice was too smooth, though, too much of an actor's quality to it. I could see how he had fooled many people in his time, he was a marvellous actor. But living around Draco had taught me a few things. I could tell he was hiding something. "Do you know what it's like to only have failures that call themselves evil for company?" He leaned back and rolled his eyes as if to emphasize the point. "Grindewald may be the only one with half a brain around here, and that's not saying much. It's dreadful!"

I laughed the moment off with him. I wasn't sure if I wanted to uncover whatever it was he was hiding from me. I had enough problems of my own, thank you very much, without having to solve Riddle's riddles. Of course, nothing got past him. He seemed to be aware that he had given himself away. We were at a silent agreement of sorts.

I wouldn't ask and he wouldn't tell.

I had a feeling he was grateful for it, but that didn't stop me from pushing him off the ledge of the astronomy tower.

What? The arse had it coming.

/

I lay there in the sun, hearing laughter pour over me. Thinking of the past always made me feel dead tired. Well, actually, thinking in general made me tired. Life as a mother and wife and having a job is not an easy thing to pull off, let me just tell you.

Oh, and of course, dealing with fate. How could I forget? Eat your vegetables, take your vitamins, keep up with your work – and of course, do what fate tells you to do because otherwise you're screwed over. That's all. You'll manage just fine in life!

Yeah bloody right. No one had told me the magical community would be this complicated or I might have reconsidered my decision to join it. Then what would fate have done, pushed me off a cliff so another Hermione Granger could be born? But at the very least, Riddle and I had made progress.

I had been given a son by the good graces of fate. It was my job – as the vessel of fate – to give the man "whose identity has been challenged" – a.k.a death eater turned golden boy Draco, the good of the world. My son was here for the good of the world. Fantastic, right? The great mystery had been solved! Only one issue remained now, of course.

What the fuck was I supposed to do about it?

Draco:

After a very laughter filled day off of work, I had to say I was exhausted. How do four year olds have so much energy? I could barely keep up with the kid's train of thought, much less his legs. Oh my god. I'm getting old. What the hell? Malfoy's never get old. Never! Well... not horridly old anyhow. What a horrible thought to think!

I had the suspicious feeling that my hairline was receding but no one, including my charming wife, wanted to point it out to me. There are magical therapies for this, you know. I realize it's a vain thing, but no one wants a bald man for a father.

Unless, of course, your father is bald. Then that's quite alright.

I was about to go to the toilet to stare in the mirror, just to confirm that I didn't need hair replacement treatment – or perhaps more psychiatric therapy to get rid of this sudden vanity issue that I had developed – when I heard giggles and splashing coming from inside.

The door was slightly ajar, so naturally, I shameless peaked in. There I found the prettiest picture ever to have graced this earth. Hermione was giving Scorpius a bath and he was telling her about his adventurous day at school. Leaning against the door frame, I listened and watched the beautiful exchange, smiling without realizing.

"And then the teacher said it was time to take a nap, but I didn't! No one did. We had snacks under our blankets and made a fort. You won't tell on me will you mum? Papa said he'll keep the secret but Billy is a scaredy bat bogey –"

"Tisk, Scorpius. Be nice," scolded Hermione, but I could tell she was amused with his enthusiasm. He grinned at her and continued playing with the animated bubble bath he so enjoyed. Hermione kissed him on the forehead and continued washing his back.

He was such a ball of life, so full of energy. I don't know what I had done to deserve such a wonderful gift, but whatever it was, I was ready to do it again over and over. He made me happy. Hermione made me happy.

He was my salvation. I almost felt as if with his birth, I had done something good for the world. That every sin I had committed was perhaps forgiven, or excused. I had a little chocolate haired boy who would cling to my legs. And this time, I would protect him with everything I had. Because I loved him. He was my family.

I had a family.

For the first time in my life, I had a real family and no goddamn thing was going to take it away from me or I was going to go all loco on them, pull out my muggle machine guns and shout, "say hello to my little friends!"

A/n: Did you place the Scarface reference?

Unsigned Reviews:

Alexybath: I'm glad you had a great weekend. : ) Canada day for me was mediocre, but I wasn't expecting much really. Thank you for asking. And yes, I'm glad you picked up on the Draco thing! I hope this chapter helps bring light to his feelings as well. As for the pregnancy - twist indeed!