Skills for Life
A/N: It's over. Eek, I think I might burst into tears. Just kidding, but thank you to all my faithful readers. :) After you finish this, head on over & check out my new story Dorm Mates. I've also got a Next Generation Hogwarts fic in my works, along with a Draco-Hermione story. Again, thank you! Review!
Chapter Twenty Four
Epilogue 13 years later
The late afternoon sunlight was piercing. It cast long shadows on the white sand, causing it to burn the bare feet of a red head.
"Dammit." Ginny Potter hissed, jumping up and down to get to the shore quicker. Her best friend, Hermione Malfoy, giggled into her palm. Her eldest daughter, Olivia, scowled. Her long blonde hair was swept into a chic bun at the nap of her neck, a few curly tendrils framing her face. Liv had grown into quite a beautiful sixteen year old girl. She was at Hogwarts as a Slytherin, much to her fathers glee.
"James, you put that crab down!" Ginny screamed, wagging her fist. Her mischievous eight year old dropped a flailing red crustacean into the sand, where it promptly crawled away. His little brother, seven year old Albus, was already seat under an umbrella with a thick book in his lap. His best friend, Hermione and Draco's second child Cassie, was next to him, also reading. Albus smiled at his mother.
"Where are Draco and Harry? Dammit, they have the cooler." Ginny barked. Hermione rolled her eyes and settled back into the chair she had just set up.
"Who's idea was it for us to go to the beach? It's scorching out!" Ginny continued to complain, but Hermione simply tuned her out. It had actually been Ginny's idea, after all. She knew that Ginny was just stressed. After playing twelve long seasons with the Holyhead Harpies, as their star Chaser, she had decided to retire her position of captain, to work for the Daily Prophet.
"Ginny, I can hear you yelling from the other side of the beach." Harry Potter reprimanded. On his shoulders was a giggling four year old, with fiery red hair and piercing brown eyes. Lily clapped.
"Higher daddy!" She squealed. Harry chuckled and lifted her up.
"Hello sweetheart." Draco smiled, kissing Hermione's cheek.
"Where's Marcus?" She asked quietly. Marcus, their own little five year old mischief maker, was waiting patiently for Lily, right next to Harry's leg. Hermione rolled her eyes and gently let her hands fall onto her nine month pregnant belly. Draco placed his hands atop her. He took in the sight before him.
Eleven years prior is someone would have told him that he would be married to Hermione Granger, with three kids and a fourth on the way, or on holiday with the Potters, Draco would have checked them into St. Mungos straight away. No questions would have been asked. But, as it was, that's what he was doing. Draco was head of Malfoy Enterprises, a potions company. Hermione was well on her way to being the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and the only reason she wasn't already there was because she wanted to earn the title.
"Marcus, stay near the shore." Hermione warned. He and Lily sprinted down to the sand.
"Oi, where's Olivia?" Draco pondered out loud. Hermione used her hand to block the rays of sun as she scanned the beach. About thirty yards away, she spotted her. Giggling, she whacked her husband and pointed.
"Bloody hell." Draco gasped. Down the beach, Olivia was talking to a boy. She had a piece of blonde hair wrapped around her finger and a hand on her hip. A boy with flipped black hair was nonchalantly flexing.
"Oh hush, she's a young lady." Hermione defended.
"Thank Merlin we don't have to worry about that for another ten years." Harry grinned, leaning back into the chair.
"Oh yeah, I don't know about that." Draco muffled his laugh in Hermione's hair. Little Marcus was chasing Lily, making kissing noises.
"But we're boyfriend and girlfwiend!" He screeched. Lily giggled and ducked.
"Oh boy." Ginny giggled. The adults settled into an quiet silence.
"We have an announcement." Harry said as they divvied up sandwiches for lunch.
"I'm pregnant." Ginny giggled. Hermione's eyebrows shot up.
"Oh my god! How far along? I'm so happy for you!" She gushed.
"Ten weeks, we just found out." Ginny beamed. Then her face turned sheepish. "That's why I've been so hormonal, I'm sorry."
"It's no-oh god," Hermione growled, suddenly clutching her abdomen. Draco froze, his eyes scanning her face.
"What is it?" asked Draco quickly, cupping her face. Hermione shook her head, grinning, although it looked forced.
"Nothing, little Juliet is just kicking." She ground out. Hermione leaned back to the chair, breathing out unsteadily.
"No she's not." Draco rolled his eyes. "Ten years of marriage, I know when you're lying."
Hermione let her brown eyes fall to the sandy floor. She muttered something that neither of the adults could understand. Ginny told her to speak up. Hermione sighed. "I've been in labor since this morning."
"What?" Draco bellowed. She rolled her eyes, immediately stopped being so quiet and bashful.
"I didn't want to sit in a hospital for a whole day, and we had these lovely beach plans..." She explained and trailed off.
"Hermione that could cause damage." Harry berated, running his hands through his messy black hair.
"Oh shush, I've had two children both of which have taken nearly fifteen hours in labor." Hermione barked. "The contractions are finally getting stronger and closer together."
"Hermione, we have to take you to St. Mungos." Draco said frantically, as he shoved things into the bag. Hermione rolled her eyes and accepted Harry's waiting hand. She heaved herself up, grimacing at the discomfort.
"Olivia!" She shouted shrilly. The blonde teenager looked up from her guy friend and frowned. She saw her mother clutching her belly, and then her father packing up. However, she selfishly turned back around.
Olivia continued to talk, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her Aunt Ginny was frowning deeply. Liv looked down. "Olivia, you're mother went into labor. We have to go."
Olivia resisted the urge to stomp her foot. "But, she's not gonna have the baby now."
Ginny shook her head. "Oh, apparently she's been in labor all day, but didn't say anything. Whatever, but she's gonna to have the baby soon." The disapproval in her voice was thick.
"Fine." Olivia resigned. She said goodbye to her friend and followed her aunt to her mother.
"Jesus, I didn't remember labor being this painful." Hermione hissed. It had been two hours, and still nothing. The healer kept saying, "any minute," but so far, that wasn't true.
"Juliet is taking her time, that's for sure." Draco chuckled lightly. Hermione shot him a harsh glare. Harry and Ginny were out in the lobby, waiting for Molly to come take the little ones. Olivia was the only one who remained in the room. Suddenly, a particularly painful contraction rippled through her abdomen. Usually, the brunette witch was able to hold in her screams by biting her cheek or lip, not that time. She let out a blood curdling screech, and nearly broke Draco's hand.
"Should I go get the medi witch?" Olivia shrieked, her eyes wide.
"Yes, she's coming." Hermione bit out. A minute later, the healer and medical witch were standing in front of Hermione. Ginny was ushered in, and Olivia ushered out. Olivia' Uncle Harry waited with her, in the lobby.
"Are you excited to meet your new sister?" Harry asked quietly. He knew that recently, Draco and Hermione had had trouble with Olivia. She had begun to act out, talk back, and overall be unkind. Hermione had been at her wits end with the new baby, the little ones, and Olivia on top of it all. She had frequently vented to Harry and Ron. Both her and Draco were at a loss.
"I suppose. I think mom's a little old to be having a baby, though." She said casually, but there was a bite in her voice. Harry frowned.
"Olivia, I think you need to be nicer to your parents." He sighed. "After all they sa-"
"Yeah, they saved me. I know, they tell me all the time, so you don't need to add to the redundancy." Olivia snarled, crossed her arms.
"Liv, why are you so angry all the time?" Harry asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. She frowned and turned her head. After a moment of silence, she relented.
"Sometimes...I feel like I don't belong. I'm not their actual daughter, and I wonder if I'm really even family." She whispered brokenly. Olivia felt Harry's strong arms wrap around her.
"Liv, they love you more than anything. They fought so hard to get you, and they are still fighting." He whispered into her hair. Olivia felt tears slip out of her eyes.
"Olivia, Harry." Draco's voice cut through their moment. They pulled apart, Olivia smiling softly.
"Thank you Uncle Harry." Olivia whispered. Her father slipped his arm around her shoulder and guided her into the hospital room. Hermione sat, red faced, on the bed, her brown eyes joyful. In her arms, cradled and swathed in blankets, was Juliet Isabel Malfoy. Olivia felt her heart melt a little bit at the sight of her. Suddenly, all that was wrong with the world seemed to fade away. All that looked ahead was happiness. Just as it should.
A/N: Holy balls, it's over. I might shed a tear. Well, it's been fun. A long journey, filled with a lot of writers block & hard time. Oh well, you reviewers have been absolutely lovely. So, check for new stories. I'm almost on summer break, which means more writing time. Yay! :)