Author's Note: A lot of you didn't like the fact that I didn't draw out the reunion of Draco and Hermione, that I didn't make Draco work a bit harder for it, sorry to disappoint but I always had the intentions of writing a bit of the hardship in this chapter. Hopefully that makes up for it a little bit.
Thank you to dorklover, PennyThomas, musicalrelapse, dollydolphin, Rosejriley, unmistakably, Nickie Lynn, keish, 1991, Nacf, , forgetfulmonkie, Yasric M. S, Deductions-of-Sherlolly, A Shadow Away, figsk8r, SterekDramione721, DanzAngel, Lycja, laurinda, , Ashtie13, Cassiopeia88, uniqu3s0u7, VampGurlKisses, TiimidaSilver, Gryffindor Doll, lynneas73, iceheartz, I'm not dead. Lets have dinner, TeddyBella, ItsNanna, kiwiroo, chinkie, monicasa1991, and Chocfrog456 for following the story.
Thank you to almac1991, PennyThomas, Sandria99, dollydolphin, Br1ghteys, Extacy925, luckyducky1986, Chain-SawSmile, Deductions-of-Sherlolly, Alice. , SterekDramione721, Lycja, laurinda, Cassiopeia88, madelineforce, TiimidaSilver, mssweetychessgir, Chantal9, ItsNanna, and ksouza3 for adding the story to your favorites.
Thank you to musicalrelapse, Extacy925, all guests, DanzAngel, Adastra5, skellyshook, MCannon5887, trinka belle, FizzyFictioner, Bratalia, My Universe, Frogster, Grovek 26, JuliSt, Pepper Miles, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, and CGinny for reviewing the story.
A very huge thank you to those of you who have added me as an author to your alerts list or to your favorites list. I have a lot of ideas in the works, not for long stories but for some one shots or short stories. Knowing that you guys want to be alerted when I drop a new story means the world. It's because of all of you that review, favorite and follow that I'm still here writing after all this time. So thank you to Sandria99, Deductions-of-Sherlolly, SterekDramione721, laurinda, Kelsey Galloway, sed418, and CGinny.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"No this was a horrible idea! I can't believe you talked me into this!" Hermione yelled at Blaise while she threw things out of a box and back onto Clara's bed. Blaise looked at her sternly and started placing things back into the box behind her.
"I didn't talk you into anything Hermione you made the decision on your own with Draco. Now stop unpacking everything and take a deep breath. Everything is going to be ok, remember?" He took her by the shoulders and made her look into his eyes while he prompted her to take deep breaths.
They were supposed to be leaving for London the following day and Hermione was having what Draco had joked was a "Mione Meltdown". She hadn't found it funny that he was trying to play off the name she had given his mood swings back in school. In fact she hadn't found much of what Draco did the last few days amusing at all. She had woken up one morning and all these emotions had just flooded her about whether or not Draco could be trusted. Over the last half year Draco had been spending all the time he could making up for lost time getting to know his daughter. He lived in the house with them, although from the get go Hermione had made him sleep in his own room, and on days like the last few had been she forced him to go stay on his boat. He had done nothing but prove his love for their little girl and he had been desperately trying to make up for his past mistakes with Hermione, but she still had days where she just wasn't sure if it was what she wanted.
One day they would be fine. She would let him touch her, kiss her, hold her, and over the past few months they had been intimate a few times. But always following a few days behind would be a meltdown of epic proportions where they would fight and bicker like they were back in school before sixth year had ever happened.
Blaise was always careful to make sure Clara was no where in the house when they started arguing. It usually always ended with Draco leaving, slamming the door behind him, and Hermione crying locking herself up in her room. None of which Clara needed to see or hear.
Of course the little girl was not stupid and she knew when her parents were fighting. She didn't always understand what they were fighting about but she knew when her Mom was sad and when her Dad wouldn't stay the night at the house that something was wrong.
Hermione's breathing had slowed and she sat on the bed clutching a stuffed animal of Clara's to her chest.
"I don't know if I am ready for all of this Blaise. Moving back, living with him, having to face everyone. It's just a lot to do all at once, I worry how Clara is going to handle it." She murmured into the stuffed owl. Blaise chuckled at her.
"Draco told you that you guys didn't have to move into the Manor. He told you he would buy you a flat just for you and Clara if that's what would make you comfortable. He's done nothing but respect your wishes since he came here Hermione. But you have to stop this hot and cold thing, it's frustrating for him, and confusing for Clara. One day she sees her parents happy and smiling at each other and the next you are refusing to speak to him and you don't want him in the house. That is a lot for her to handle here and that's with me helping out. The only way she's going to make it through this unscathed is if you two are a united front." He said. Hermione let out a huge sigh and nodded her head.
"I know Blaise. I know. It's just hard. Sometimes I have nightmares about that night at school, most nights it's the Manor. It's hard to wake up from them and not be mad at him. I feel like I rushed into things when he came back, for Clara's sake. But some days it's fine and I feel like we never spent all those years apart."
"Maybe you two should just sit down and talk. You guys are supposed to be leaving tomorrow. You need to figure out what you want now Hermione. You can't go back to London like this. You won't survive it."
Hermione nodded at him, clutching the owl a little tighter. Blaise looked around the room at all the boxes and laughed.
"Why are you packing the muggle way anyways? This would go so much faster with magic." He said. With a wave of his wand everything had been packed away into the boxes, leaving the room bare of anything that had belonged to Clara.
Hermione looked around the room and felt her heart skip a beat. This was it. There was no turning back now.
Draco looked at Hermione from across the table. The boat swayed back and forth gently on the water and the warm breeze had died down to a gentle flow. She had brought dinner from Isabelle's and he had conjured up a table on the deck of the boat for them to eat. She hadn't brought Clara because she had realized that Blaise had been right, they had to be united when they went back.
"I know it scares you Hermione. I know you think that there is going to be all sorts of retribution for leaving and not telling anyone. For coming back with a child, my child, but I assure you I have done nothing but rebuild my name to mean something besides fear and pureblood supremacy. My name is respected again, people won't be as quick to judge as you think." He said. She shook her head at him.
"It doesn't matter that you've rebuilt your name Draco. All that matters is that people will do the math and realize that she was conceived at a time when I was a member of the Golden Trio and you were a Death Eater." She spat the words like they were poison on her tongue.
Draco looked down at the table with a look that Hermione could only describe as sadness. She looked down at the table as well and fiddled with the last meatball on her plate.
"I can't help it Draco. I'm just scared. I'm scared that people will lash out at me for leaving so suddenly and she's going to get caught in the cross fire. It's me that they are going to want to tear down, you can't save me like you can her. If anything I'm sure Rita Skeeter will spin it to where you're the sad lonely Father who had his child taken away by the horrible Hermione Granger." Hermione scoffed. Draco laughed at her.
"No one believes a word Skeeter says Hermione, and if I'm saying otherwise honestly there will be no way she can even run a story like that." He reached for her hand across the table. She eyed it before putting her small hand in his. He rubbed his thumb over her hand gently and smiled warmly at her.
"I told you I'm not going to let anything happen to you Hermione. I told you that I would spend the rest of my life making up my mistakes to you. But you can't keep hiding here, it's not fair to anyone, yourself included. Tell me you don't miss London. Tell me you don't miss Harry and Ron and Ginny. There's so much you've missed out on. Tell me you don't want to go back."
"I do want to go back. I do. I miss everyone terribly, I'm just afraid at how they're going to react." She looked down at the table.
"They already know we were together in school. They already know that there is a kid involved. I respectfully have not owled them that it is my child and not Blaise's, I know that you want to tell them yourself. But there really is nothing else you could possibly surprise them with except for that, they miss you Hermione." A strange look crossed his face.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"If anyone had told me ten years ago that this is where we would be today I would have hexed them within an inch of their life." He exclaimed. Hermione laughed at him.
The tension left her body and she sat back in her chair, glass of wine in hand. She took a sip and stared out over the water. She saw Draco get up from the table out of her peripherals and felt the warmth of his body close to hers. She looked over as he knelt down on his knees and took her hands in his.
"I know there are days where you don't trust me. I've told you a million times and I will continue telling you a million more that I will do whatever I have to to make it up to you. I know it will take time Hermione. But I'm telling you this is the biggest step in the right direction, for all of us." He paused, looking deep in thought for a moment before looking back up at her.
"If you are really worried about the Skeeter woman I may have an idea of how we can avoid that."
"How?" Hermione asked him. Draco just smiled at her and leaned forward placing a small kiss on her forehead.
"Let's head back to the house and make sure everything is ready to go. I'll worry about the rest. Just trust me." He said softly.
Her eyes searched his for a moment before she nodded slowly in agreement. Merlin what was she getting herself into?
Hermione looked around the flat while Clara was running through all the different rooms trying to figure out which one she wanted. The flat that Draco had bought them was huge, it was like the size of the house she had grown up in. They had been able to floo in directly, so as to avoid any public, as soon as Draco had bought the place and had the network set up. It had five bedrooms and four bathrooms, a large kitchen and a separate room with a large dining table. There was also a room for an office and a den with a fireplace. She had asked him if a place that big was really necessary but he had just nodded at her and smirked saying that one day he would move in with them and he planned on making more babies. Clara chose this moment to pop her head out of one of the bedrooms before Hermione had a chance to respond to that statement.
"This one is my room! And if I'm getting any brothers and sisters I want them now! We HAVE to be able to go to school together! I'm going to be in Gryffindor like Mom! Maybe I'll get a brother who gets sorted into Slytherin like you Dad! Then we can be rivals! But not real rivals of course, I just want to beat him at Quidditch!" She laughed, jumping into Draco's arms.
"And why wouldn't YOU want to be in Slytherin like me?!" Draco asked her, giving her a kiss on the forehead. Clara shook her head vigorously at him and threw her hands around his neck.
"Green just isn't my color Dad." She exclaimed. Draco gave Hermione an incredulous look to which she laughed and shook her head.
"She get's that from you." She said, holding her hands up in defense.
"When are we going to see Mommy's friends?" Clara asked. Draco looked over to Hermione, who looked scared but nodded at him that she was ready.
"We can head over there right now." He said, putting Clara down. He took her hand in his and reached the other out towards Hermione. She slowly walked forward and placed her hand in his.
It's now or never. She thought to herself. She wanted to vomit as they floo'd away to The Burrow.
She hesitantly stepped out of the fireplace, brushing herself off. She slowly looked up and around, expecting to be bombarded with questions from a hundred people. Only there was no one there. She looked at Draco questioningly.
"Everyone is outside, Harry and Ron are waiting for you in the kitchen. Clara and I will be outside waiting for you when you're ready." He smiled warmly at her.
"I don't want Clara going anywhere without me." She said, pulling Clara closer to her. The little girl wrapped her arms around her legs.
"It will be ok Mom. Dad won't let anything happen to me. Besides, if anyone tries to say anything I'll just remind them that I have the smartest Mother that ever was and tell them that she's going to the Headmistress of Hogwarts one day and if they want to make it through school or want their kids to make it through school they better not mess with me." She said, walking over to Draco's side. It was Hermione's turn to give Draco the incredulous look. He laughed and shrugged picking Clara up.
"She gets that from me." He said proudly. He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "It will all be ok." He whispered. She nodded and watched as he disappeared out the door.
She slowly moved towards the kitchen, each step feeling like her feet were made of lead. The closer she got she could make out the voices of the two boys. She quietly stepped into the doorway of the kitchen and took a deep breath.
"Hermione!" Both boys exclaimed at once. She found herself wrapped up in both sets of arms hugging her tightly. A wave of emotion overcame her and tears came rushing to her eyes as she hugged them both back.
"Harry. Ron. I'm so so sorry." She said, pulling back from them and wiping her eyes. Harry put a hand on her shoulder.
"We're sure you had your reasons. All that matters is your back now, and you're safe." He said.
"But you do have a lot of explaining to do. Did you really have a kid with Zabini?" Ron asked. Hermione laughed as Harry punched him in the arm.
"What?!" He directed towards Harry.
"I can see nothing has changed here." Hermione laughed. Ron grinned and Harry smiled warmly at her.
"We do have a lot to catch up on." She said softly.
"How about I make some tea? We have all afternoon, you can start from the beginning if you'd like." Harry prompted, going to put water in the kettle on the stove. Hermione sat at the table and fiddled with her hands nervously until Ron put his giant hands over hers to calm her.
"The beginning is always the best place to start for a story." He grinned at her.
She smiled back at him. She missed this so much, she just didn't really know it until this moment. She wasn't even surprised at how warm and welcoming the boys were being. If she had been in their place and one of them in hers she knew she would have acted the same as they were.
Giving her the chance to explain everything was the best outcome she could have ever hoped for. So with a deep breath she started at the beginning, all the way back to her first encounter on the train with Blaise.
A few hours later found the trio laughing like all the years had never even passed between them. The boys had filled her in on their lives and she had filled them in on hers…well mostly anyways, she had left out Clara so far. As the laughter died down a serious look settled on Harry's face.
"So the million dollar question still stands. Is there a child involved?" He asked. Hermione looked down at the table and smiled a little smile.
"Yes. Draco and I have a daughter. Her name is Clara and she's absolutely amazing. Blaise helped me raise her. Draco never knew about her until he found us in Ravello." She answered.
"So that's why Draco didn't keep us in the loop about anything? Because he found out it was his kid and not Blaise's?" Harry asked.
"I asked him not to say anything about her. I'm worried how everyone will handle the news. I just want her to be protected, I don't want her to be an outcast because she's the daughter of a Death Eater." Hermione said worriedly. Harry and Ron shared a knowing look.
"Hermione…Malf-Draco has done a lot of changing the past few years. He's made a lot of financial contributions and done a lot to change the way the public sees his family and his name. I don't think anyone is going to give you any problems. Besides he set something up for you later today to help the public with you coming back." Ron said. Hermione eyed the boys suspiciously.
"You know what he has planned?" She asked them. They both smiled and nodded.
"But first I think I wanna meet my Niece." Harry said, getting up from the table. Hermione nodded and followed the boys out the door and to the backyard.
She was relieved to see that gathered around a giant table covered in food, were only members of the Weasley and Potter families.
"We didn't want you to be overwhelmed." Harry whispered in her ear.
She smiled at him gratefully. She watched as everyone turned to look at them. Draco rose from his seat next to Arthur. All of the kids had been running around playing together. Clara had stayed close to Draco watching the other kids curiously. Once she saw Hermione she got up and ran over to her. Hermione bent down to receive her daughter but was shocked to see Clara launch herself at Ron and wrap her arms around his legs.
"You must be my Uncle Ron! Daddy said you're going to be my favorite!" She exclaimed.
Ron and Hermione both looked at Draco and he just shrugged and laughed.
"He also said that I could call you Uncle Won Won! That's what Aunt Lavender used to call you in school! He said it's your favorite nickname."
Everyone laughed as Ron grew red in the face. He knelt down and put his arms around the little girl.
"Well I have a school story about your Dad for you Clara. Has he ever told you about the time he got turned into a ferret?" Ron smirked at Draco. Draco just rolled his eyes.
"I knew that was coming." He mumbled.
He went to extend a hand to Hermione and lead her over to the table. Ginny came rushing over and wrapped Hermione in a huge hug.
"Merlin Hermione! I'm so glad you're back. I've missed you so much!" Hermione hugged her back and smiled.
"I missed you too Gin. I'm sorry about the way I left, and for not keeping in touch." She replied. Ginny shook her head at her.
"Nonsense it's all ok. Draco has explained what he could. You guys have a lovely daughter." Ginny said.
Hermione smiled and looked over to where Clara was talking animatedly with Ron. He looked positively smitten with her.
Hermione sat next to Draco and spent another couple of hours catching up with everyone. Draco was supportive the whole time. At some point in the late afternoon his arm found its way across the back of her chair and his hand was playing with a stray curl. This didn't go unnoticed as everyone exchanged knowing glances and smiles.
"Draco when will your Mother arrive?" Molly asked him.
He straightened up a little and looked at Hermione who was looking at him wide eyed. He leaned in towards her and lowered his voice.
"She's bringing the surprise." He stated, his voice laced with worry.
Hermione wanted to know what this damn surprise was already. Today had gone better than she had possibly imagined but she wasn't sure if she was ready to face his Mother after all these years. Her breathing quickened and she looked around for Clara. Once she saw that she was now playing with all the other kids she calmed down a tiny bit, but it still felt like her heart was pounding in her chest. Draco was looking at her worriedly as was everyone else at the table. She started to feel faint, she needed….
"Now, now Hermione. You didn't come all this way to bow out now." A familiar voice in her ear snapped her out of her state. She looked up and found exactly who she needed in that moment.
"Uncle Blaise! You came! Did you bring Carmella too?!" Clara cried out from across the yard, running over to jump in his arms.
"Ci la mia nipotina, I did. She's settling all of her things into the flat. We will see her later when we get home." Blaise answered. Hermione rose and hugged him letting out the breath she had been holding.
"You guys are moving into the flat?" She asked him. He nodded in response.
"After you guys left I was talking to Carmella and Isabelle and realized that I couldn't let you guys come home and have all the fun. So I asked her to move in with me…and you guys in London. She is very excited to be here. Isabelle is a little sad we've all left her but I told her we're only a floo away. Maybe we can even get her to open up a place here." Blaise said.
"Yes! Meatballs every day!" Clara threw her arms up.
Hermione turned to smile at Draco and realized he was no longer sitting beside her at the table. Her eyes scanned the yard as everyone welcomed Blaise. He had spent the last six years with Hermione and they welcomed him with open arms as a friend, to which Hermione was grateful for. Her eyes landed on Draco coming back out of the house with two people following him. She squinted her eyes and noticed it was his Mother followed by another person Hermione hadn't seen for years…Padma Patil.
Our Heroine Returns
A modern day Romeo and Juliet story
By: Padma Patil
After almost seven long years Hermione Granger has returned! The Gryffindor Princess sat down for an exclusive interview to answer the number one question "why did she leave?" After spending most of her time away in Italy, Miss Granger explains that her Romeo finally found her and convinced her to come home, where her friends were waiting with open arms.
Just who is this Romeo you ask? None other than the Slytherin Prince himself, reformed Death Eater Draco Malfoy. Theirs is a romance that blossomed during our sixth year at Hogwarts, both seeking solace from the upcoming war. Finding it in each other, they kept it a secret from their friends in order to ensure their safety. First a small spark of fire between the two former enemies, then a full blown love that bloomed over secret encounters and hopes and dreams of a future together.
At the end of the year, as most of us recall, the war begun and Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy found themselves ripped apart by their respective sides. Not long after, Miss Granger found that she was carrying the heir to the Malfoy line. Fleeing for the safety of her child, she gained the help of friend and fellow Slytherin to Mr. Malfoy, Blaise Zabini.
Managing to escape being found by Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Draco Malfoy, the pair used glamour to hide whenever investigators came too close to their trail. Finally Mr. Malfoy was able to track them down to a city on the coast in Italy. He has been in their presence over the last seven months, bonding with his daughter Clara, and rekindling the love he never stopped feeling for Miss Granger.
Facing the public with the news of a child with Mr. Malfoy is what kept Miss Granger away for so long. It is a tragedy that our beloved war heroine felt the need to stay away in fear of being ostracized for having the child of a former Death Eater. Mr. Malfoy and his Mother Narcissa have been nothing but helpful in the rebuilding of Hogwarts and have made generous contributions to numerous foundations and charities over the last six years. An act that Mr. Malfoy says will continue on as long as the Malfoy line is around.
Story continued on page 6
Hermione laughed as she set down the paper on the dining room table. The article had been accompanied by a picture of the three of them, Clara being held by Draco with one arm while the other was wrapped around her waist and she had a hand placed on his chest. The idea, he had said, was for them to tell their own story to the public before Rita Skeeter had the chance to spin her own.
It had been two weeks since she had been reunited with her friends at The Burrow. When Hermione had seen Padma following Narcissa into the yard her mind was swimming with questions as to what she had to do with Draco's surprise. She soon had found out however, that Padma now worked for The Daily Prophet.
Padma had been very happy to help the couple. Hermione and her had been friends in school and she was now in a relationship with Seamus Finnegan, who was still good friends with both Harry and Ron and had even developed a friendship with Draco over the years. Hermione was grateful to her.
"She really livened it up didn't she?" Hermione asked, taking a sip of her tea. Draco, who was sitting opposite her with his own tea, picked up the paper and smiled at the picture.
"That's her job love and I must say it worked out brilliantly. The public absolutely loves a good love story. They can't wait for us to take Clara out in public." Draco said.
"That's what I'm afraid of Draco. She's just a child. It's a lot for her to have to deal with." Hermione argued.
"Have you met our daughter Hermione? I think she will be just fine, the public adores her. She will love it." Draco argued back, setting down the paper. Hermione scowled at him before taking another drink of her tea.
"I've been thinking. You know it seems silly for you to be staying at the Manor considering we were living under the same roof in Ravello." She brought up, looking at him over her tea.
"Mother has enjoyed having some company. I think she was lonely while I was gone. She spent a lot of time at the Weasley's." He said, making a face. "There's something I never thought I would hear myself say."
Hermione laughed. She picked up her empty tea cup and saucer and took it into the kitchen placing in gingerly into the sink. Narcissa had picked out the most beautiful china for the flat but Merlin if it wasn't the kind of expensive that was extremely fragile. When she turned back towards the table she caught Draco's eyes noticing that he was watching her.
"What?" She asked him.
"You're beautiful." He said simply, earning a blush from her.
"We're you suggesting I move in?" He asked her.
"Well you do own the place. And there are more than enough bedrooms for everyone." She said softly.
Blaise and Carmella had no intentions of getting their own place anytime soon. They were going to travel between Italy and London and Blaise had every intention of getting Isabelle to open up a place in Hogsmeade. Between them, her, and Clara there were still two bedrooms left. One was a guest room for when Isabelle visited.
"Are you really going to make me stay in another room again?" Draco raised an eyebrow at her.
"I don't know Draco. We can talk about it." She answered.
Draco stood from the table and walked slowly over to her. She backed up into the counter as he advanced until he was standing right in front of her. He placed a hand on her hip and brought the other up to cup her cheek. Her breath caught in her throat.
"How long are you going to make me pay for my mistakes Hermione? Some days your loving and we actually feel like a family, some days your cold and aloof, sometimes you come to me in the middle of the night just like in the Room of Requirement all those years ago. What do you want? Do you feel like I've forced myself into your life? Would you rather me not be around as much? Spend time with just Clara and not with you?"
"Draco you're being stupid. I just asked you to move in here." Hermione interrupted him.
"You want to coexist under one roof for Clara. I want to be a family Hermione. I want Blaise and Carmella to find their own place eventually. I want to give Clara siblings, I want to marry you one day. Bust most of all I want you to want to have a life with me Hermione. If you don't want the same thing then tell me now." Draco said.
His thumb was stroking her cheek and tears were pricking at her eyes. She didn't know why she was so afraid but she knew she didn't want a life without Draco in it.
"I just need time. You told me you would give me that Draco." She whispered. He wiped the tears away with his thumbs and lowered his face so that his lips were hovering above hers.
"I will give you time, I just want to know that you do want the same things as I do, eventually." He whispered. She nodded softly and he placed a small chaste kiss on her lips before pulling away.
"I think I'll just stay in the Manor for now. Mother doesn't need to be there all by herself, and speaking of Mother she's already at The Burrow and I suggest we get a move on it. I'm sure poor Molly has her hands full with all the grandchildren. What a nightmare last night must have been."
Hermione cracked a smile at that and wiped the rest of her tears away as she moved to the fireplace where Draco stood waiting for her. Clara had been to her first sleepover the night before with all her "cousins". Poor Molly indeed.
Hermione watched as Clara ran around with Rose, Hugo and Albus. She felt a ping of sadness that she hadn't been around to watch Harry and Ron's kids grow up. At least she could watch them all grow up together now. She imagined what it would be like to have a few more of her's and Draco's children to run around with the younger kids, the thought brought a smile to her face.
She looked back into the house at Draco sitting around the table with Harry and Ron. They were laughing and having a great time. She watched Narcissa, who looked so oddly in place in the Weasley household, a smile gracing her features as she spoke with Arthur and Molly. Blaise and Carmella were at the end of the table talking with Ginny and Lavender. She laughed to herself, Blaise was always such a ladies man.
She walked over to the table and took her seat beside Draco, noticing as he put his arm over the back of her chair and started playing with her hair. She leaned into his embrace slightly and observed the scene around her. Weasley's, Potter's, Malfoy's, Zabini and Granger all under one roof getting along. It was like something out of a dream.
She smiled as she realized Draco had been paying for his mistakes for years. For him to be accepted into the hearts of the ones she grew up loving the most, he must have paid a dear price. Spending years rebuilding the name that had been built for generations in an image of hatred and fear. The humility she imagined he endured, the hardships he must have gone through, all while never giving up on finding her.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Draco whispered in her ear. She turned to look at him with a genuine smile and reached over putting a hand on his knee. She gave it a gentle squeeze of reassurance and turned to join in the conversation around her.
Draco had been taking chances ever since the end of the war. Taking chances on his future, on them, on her. It was time for her to take a chance on him. Clara came running into the room, the other kids trailing behind her. She climbed up onto Draco's lap and started telling him about the Pygmy Puffs that Ron and Lavender had just bought for their kids. Of course she wanted one and of course Draco was telling her he would buy her the whole lot that the twins had at their shop. Hermione laughed as she watched Clara's eyes light up.
What a beautiful and wonderful chance it would be.
Author's Note: Whew! Well that is that. One more chapter to go, the next one will fast forward ten years. Not a lot of Clara action in this chapter (I'm sorry trinka belle) but I promise the next chapter will have more. I've even promised trinka belle a one-shot with Clara as the main character for those of you who love her so much. Please review and let me know what you think!