A/N: Thank you for all the support over the last year and a half. It was all of the encouragment that kept me sane in my crazy whirlwind of a life.
Epilogue Part I
Hermione laid on a large blanket on the hill overlooking the unicorn glade, staring at the clouds in the sky, enjoying the high-pitched laughter of children as Bast, Denna, and Layla crawled over Draco and Abraxas. She ran her hand lightly over her huge pregnant belly, excited to welcome her fourth child, Imogen.
Bast stood, taking Layla with him as he began to twirl in circles. The giggling two-year-old in her older brother's arms screamed, "faster, faster."
"What are you thinking about?" Draco asked, running his fingers lightly through Hermione's curls now that he was kid free.
"I am just so happy, so content. I didn't expect that." she murmured with a smile but was distracted by Denna's conversation with Abraxas.
"Look, Denna, that cloud looks like a dragon!"
"No, it doesn't silly Papa! It looks like an Augurey!"
"And what do you know of Auguries?"
"They like the rain,"
"Oh?"
"And death,"
Abraxas sighed and ran his hand down his face. Who would have thought that little sweet Denna would be the one with the darker outlook on the world? Then again, Hermione was pregnant with her while the whole Hecate thing was going on. Maybe he shouldn't be so surprised. She was smart as a whip, just like her mother. However, she had an uncanny knack for the darker side of the magical world as if it drew inspiration from her mind alone.
Hermione smiled, amused with Denna's answers and how they always seemed to throw her daddies for a loop.
"How can you not be happy, married to me?" Draco purred running his fingers over the curve of the outside of her breast.
Hermione snorted. "If you were anything like you were third year, this marriage wouldn't be a happy one."
He brought his hand to his chest as if mortally wounded and gasped for air. "Evil woman,"
Hermione laughed. Just then Bast dropped down beside her absolutely winded from twirling Layla around in circles.
"What time are we going over to Uncle Harry's?" Bast asked, rubbing his hands in anticipation.
"Soon. Evangeline's party isn't supposed to start for another two hours. Be patient."
"But Teddy and I were going to try out the new tree house at the Burrow! Uncle Harry built it just for us!"
"I tell you what when Daddy Lucius gets back, we will all go over to Uncle Harry's early. I bet Aunt Ginny would love the help anyway."
"What kind of help do you think you will be?" Abraxas snarked, looking meaningfully at Hermione's huge baby bump. A bump that was much larger than she had ever had with Denna or Layla. Maybe the Healers counted were wrong. They could also make mistakes from time to time.
"When I said Ginny would love the extra help, I was implying that my wonderful husbands would willingly take some of the burdens off of their shoulders. After all, they are some of the closest family we have."
Draco grumbled something over his shoulder, almost too low for Hermione to catch.
"What was that Dear?" Hermione asked with a mock glare.
Draco rose his eyebrows and pursed his lips. He was not foolish enough to repeat whatever it was he said but at the same time was too stubborn to take it back.
The rival between Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter would never really dissipate despite the closeness of the families. It was just one of those things.
Hermione's lips twitched just long enough for Draco and Abraxas to notice, earning herself a sexy wink in return by Abraxas.
Hermione sighed as the merriment of the moment receded and she thought about the energy it would take to get up. She rolled onto her left side and pushed until she was on all fours… the only way she could seem to get up off the ground these days. She really couldn't wait until Imogen was born.
Abraxas stood with her, helping her as much as he could but midway to standing, there was a loud snap and gush. Waist down, Hermione was soaked.
"You're a month early…" Draco murmured, a slightly hyper look in his eye. You would think that after watching her give birth twice would make him a pro. Nope. He was still squeamish as hell.
After a pause, Abraxas swung Hermione up into his arms and the small troop booked it back to the Manor. Denna ran forward and grabbed Hermione's hand in a death grip. Layla was swept into Draco's arms wide-eyed, clutching at the lapels of his shirt.
Bast was clearly torn between excitement and disappointment. On one hand, he would be getting a new sibling and he would get to stay at Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny's for several days. On the other hand, the party for Evangeline would probably be canceled. Perhaps he could talk them into inviting Teddy over too. Uncle Sirius would never say no to either of them, he was sure of it.
Hermione breathed in sharply through her nose, obviously experiencing the first of many contractions. It was mild, but she felt as if this time there wouldn't be hours of waiting. The feeling was deep in her bones. Imogen was coming fast.
"Hurry Brax," she whispered urgently. It had only been several minutes between her contractions as opposed to the first two times that started off slow. Twenty minutes at least at irregular intervals for nearly a full day in advance with Denna. Then again, she had had a wicked backache for two days but at the time she put it down to just the heavier than normal baby bump. That was another concern of hers… both Denna and Layla were under eight pounds at birth and there was no way this baby was anything less than ten. But if she could face down Voldemort for years, allow Bellatrix into her life post-war, and marry the Malfoys…. Then she could deliver this huge baby.
Hermione's eyes slid closed as they passed through the greenhouse doors, met by a host of nervous looking house elves. It was the magic of birth, she knew, that called to them. It was just part of the bond between a bound elf and their master. They would be where they were needed, silent, and eager to serve.
Draco left them to floo the healer, Layla still in his arms. No doubt he would reach out to Harry on Hermione's behalf as he had both times prior and send the girls over earlier than planned. Bast was fast on his heels. Denna was the only one who hesitated, gripping Hermione's hand even harder.
"Denna, Honey, go with Daddy. Everything will be fine, and you will have a ton of fun with Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny. Remember Evangeline is having a party today. You will have a blast!" Abraxas said soothingly.
"What if Mummy dies like Bast's Mum?" she said in a quiet worried voice.
"Did Mummy die when Layla was born?" He added.
Denna shook her head still stubbornly gripping onto Hermione. Abraxas had to stop to avoid dragging Denna further away from the room that Draco decided to use the floo in. It had been close and convenient.
"I will be fine, Sweetheart," Hermione murmured giving Denna a tiny squeeze back. "In a few hours, one of your daddies will come and get you so that you can meet your new sister,"
"What if I don't have a sister. What if I have a brother?"
"Then we will love him just the same," Hermione said, trying to make Denna feel better and also trying not to scare the child as a new wave of pain crashed over her, her stomach a hard ball of contracting muscle.
Denna finally released her hand and said. "I love you, Mummy. Please don't die,"
"I love you too Sweetie," Hermione panted and the moment the door had shut behind Denna, Abraxas took off at a run, dying in silence as the muscles in his arms burned with hellfire. No matter how strong he was, carrying his pregnant wife over such a great distance while trying to calm his daughter down was no easy feat.
They made it to the spare room that they had dubbed the Birthing room just in time for Hermione to pant out a tiny, "Oh, Oh, I've got to push, Abraxas, I need to push!"
"No pushing until I have checked your cervix," the healer said as he bustled in right behind Sigurd and Lucius. Draco followed within seconds, child-free.
Hermione growled at him. Teeth bared, lips curled back, evil stare, and everything.
Had the healer not been present at the first two Malfoy births, he might have tread lightly. As it was, he knew the worse that would happen was a black eye. She did have a wicked right hook and made a mental note to steer clear of her hands. He looked behind his shoulder at the Medi-witch who was currently serving with him and decided that if anyone was going to have to get in range, it would be her. She was a tough old bird anyway. She could handle it.
"Then get your fucking arse over here because she is coming!" Hermione tried not to push but that was agony as the child decided to make her own way out into the world.
"Breathe," the Medi-witch soothed with a smarmy, superior look.
Hermione prayed that she would get closer, just an inch would do.
By the time the Healer was close enough to check her cervix, Imogen was already crowning, a fluffy cloud of reddish curls proceeding her.
"With the next contraction Imogen's head was out and after another big breath, the child was separated from her, in the arms of the surprised Healer. Sigurd stepped forward to cut the cord as had been agreed months ago.
"It's a girl," Sigurd murmured aloud almost amusedly. Imogen was, after all, prophesied.
"Imogen," Hermione whispered.
The healer moved Imogen over to the small table that had been equipped with the best of the best birthing equipment, a small dimple between his eyebrows as he frowned.
"Everything alright?" Abraxas asked.
"She seems to be having a bit of oxygen deprivation. I would feel better if we took her to St. Mungo's early delivery ward so that we can monitor her. Why don't one or two of you come with Imogen while Medi-witch Agnus helps with the after birth and prepares her to be moved over to the hospital,"
Sigurd and Abraxas nodded, leaning down to kiss Hermione sweaty brow.
"I want to hold my baby," Hermione demanded.
After receiving the harsh glares of the entire family, the Healer laid Imogen in her arms all the while huffing that they should not be delayed. Hermione laid the naked child on her own naked breast and stroked her back, smiling as Imogen nuzzled closer.
"I really do have to take her. We wouldn't want this to turn into a dangerous situation," the healer said from a safe distance near the door.
Hermione nodded but tearfully handed her newborn over to Abraxas and watched as Abraxas, Sigurd, and Imogen left.
The afterbirth was easy to pass, especially now that Hermione's mind was on other more important matters, like reuniting with her daughter.
Just as Hermione thought she was done, another great contraction compressed her womb.
"What is happening," Lucius asked taking Hermione's hand in his own.
"I don't know," the Medi-witch mumbled, looking more confused than the rest of them as she stared at the second tiny head trying to make its way out of Hermione's birth canal.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Draco demanded shrilly. Hermione could only grunt as she pushed.
"I don't know," the Medi-witch said, shaking her head. "There was only supposed to be one!"
"Aren't you a midwife?!" Lucius demanded.
"I'm still training. I didn't get into this profession until after the war!" the elderly woman said.
"Didn't you have any children of your own?" Lucius pushed.
The Medi-witch shook her head.
Hermione grunted again, curling her toes as she tried to push the baby out. This baby wasn't coming out as easily as Imogen had.
"Fuck it," Lucius said, deciding on something. "Draco floo Severus!"
Draco didn't even bother to nod before he sprinted out of the room and into the one next door which held the nearest connected fireplace.
"Well don't just stand there," Lucius growled. "Help her deliver the child!"
This seemed to snap the Medi-witch out of her shock. Several minutes of useless pushing passed before Severus ran into the room, Narcissa following with a rather large bag of potions, shutting the door behind her.
"Move out of my way you useless Twit!" Severus barked as Narcissa used her wand to cleanse his hands to the elbows.
"Well, I never!" the elderly woman huffed.
"How long has she been like this?"
"There hasn't been any progress, but it has only been a few minutes."
Severus did a quick examination, nodding and shaking his head in turn. "The baby's shoulder is stuck on her pelvis bone. I am going to try to adjust it. Hermione, this is going to hurt,"
She nodded, focused entirely on the pain, contractions, and pushing. Subconsciously she heard and understood but she was in the zone.
Snape reached in with his hand and tried to manipulate the infant and after several moments, he let out a relieved sigh, just as the baby's head made its way out.
"One more push," he said, and Hermione pushed with everything she had.
"It is a boy," Snape said cutting the cord without ceremony and walked the child to the table to clean and examine the boy to make sure he was healthy.
Once the baby was free of Hermione's body, it was like a dam broke, a huge gush of blood soaked the bed beneath her. Snape turned back around leaving the baby with the Medi-itch and nearly lost his shit. He had seen many things, many deaths, and he knew that it wouldn't take Hermione long to bleed to death with this amount of flow. He was not going to allow that to happen. Not on his watch. Not after everything.
"Narcissa, a blood replenisher," Severus grabbed his wand and began a series after series of diagnostics. Muttering incantations to slow the blood loss as Lucius struggled to sop up the blood from between her thighs. Narcissa tipped the vial into Hermione's mouth slowly. Hermione swallowed weakly, fading fast.
Hermione laid on the master bed hemorrhaging in front of their very eyes. Her sweaty skin was white and pasty, and her eyelids were drifting shut.
"Keep your eyes open!" Lucius ordered her as he tried to help staunch the flow of blood. The scene smacked too close to the truths told in Hecate's room, but Prophecies were never a sure thing and just because she lived in those truths did not guarantee her ultimate safety. Despite what Hecate promised.
The newborn baby wailed as Narcissa cleaned him up, taking over for the Medi-witch that was badly needed at Hermione's bedside. Maybe she would be better at trauma than with a surprise twin birth.
"Please," Lucius said, "don't die!"
Snape appeared at Lucius' elbow and moved him out of the way, trying everything in his power to fix Hermione before she bled out onto the white linens.
"Won't," Hermione mumbled almost incoherently. Her eyes slid shut and she stopped breathing.
"No," Lucius said, shock transforming his face before the rage took over, "NO!"
"Enervate," Snape yelled, and nodded with relief when Hermione drew another breath.
"We need another blood replenisher," the Medi-witch said and Narcissa pulled one out of the satchel that Snape had brought with him and handed it to the woman, taking the small child out of the care of the clearly incompetent woman.
"Thanks," the Medi-witch murmured, a blush staining her entire face.
After several nerve-wracking minutes, Hermione was finally stabilized. Snape had found the tear in her uterus when the placenta detached and had cauterized the wound. They all took a deep relieved breath.
"What kind of Healer are you?" Snape growled at the Medi-witch.
Furious pounding began at the door seconds before three frantic male voices demanded entry.
"Let them in," Snape barked at the woman who nearly cost Hermione her life.
"What happened?" Draco demanded.
"Everything is fine," Snape said. "Hermione had a near-fatal complication, but I was able to save her. Although, I doubt she will be able to have any more children."
"Five is enough for us," Sigurd agreed as he looked around and stared wonderingly between Hermione and his newborn son. The child they didn't even know was due to be in their lives yet. What an unexpected miracle.
Narcissa walked up to them, the child in her arms. "What are you going to name him?" she asked them.
"Klaus," Lucius said from behind. "Ever since she was pregnant with Denna, the boy name that she always wanted to use was Klaus."
Sigurd cradled the tiny infant against his huge body, admiring the soft brown hair on his head.
"Can I hold him?" Hermione said weakly from the bed. Sigurd turned to her and gave her the biggest, most adoring look in all the world.
"You did good, Mama," he murmured as he laid the infant in her arms.
"Severus?" Hermione said from the bed as she ran her fingers through Klaus' dark curly hair.
He turned and looked at her with one brow hitched in question.
"You should be a healer,"
Snape bared his teeth at her in a growl, even as the rest of the room erupted into relieved laughter.
"I would rather gouge out my own eyes. I would rather resume teaching potions. I would rather…"
"The return of Voldemort?" Lucius smirked, baiting his old friend.
Snape rolled his eyes. "I have no idea why I even come here if this is the abuse I can expect to receive."
"Awe, Severus, you know we treasure your friendship," Hermione murmured. She smiled tenderly as Klaus began to suckle. "Can we go to the hospital now? Imogen needs me,"
"Go ahead and rest Love," Abraxas said sweeping the damp curls out of her face. And Hermione did just that as she let her eyes drift shut with the comforting weight of one of her babies against her skin. None of her husbands would ever let anything happen to her or their children.
She truly felt loved and cherished. The luckiest woman in the world.
When she woke up, it was to the shushing noises of two of her husbands, each holding a tiny bundle cradled in their arms.
"You are finally awake," Lucius said from her the door. Layla was in his arms and Bast was holding Denna's hand behind him. A sharp cry drew most of their attention, all except Denna who wore the most relieved look Hermione had ever seen.
Hermione lifted her arms to her worried daughter as the little girl ran to her, blond tresses flowing behind her. She melted into Hermione's arms with a choked sob, talking a mile a minute, none of which was comprehensible.
"Slow down Sweetie," Hermione murmured into her hair, stroking the small quivering back.
Denna took a big gulping breath and tried to say it again slowly. "Daddy flooed Uncle Harry and told him that you were going to the hospital, that something was wrong. I thought you were going to die."
"Oh Lovey, I'm sorry you were scared. There were some problems, but Grampa Sev came just in time."
"Was it because I have another brother too now?" she asked.
"No. I was bleeding and it took a while to figure out why it wouldn't stop. Your little brother was just an added blessing. A surprise blessing."
Hermione pulled Denna up onto the hospital bed and hugged her close, letting the little girl calm down by having her near. After a little while, she noticed Denna's staring at the new babies, her nose wrinkled in displeasure.
"What's the matter, Denna?" Sigurd asked. He had taken the chair at her bedside moments after Lucius arrived with the children.
"They aren't cute at all," she stage-whispered. "They look like old wrinkly potatoes."
Hermione bit her lips in an effort to hold back her laugh, Sigurd on the other hand, snorted.
"That is how you looked too after you were born," he said pulling out a sketchbook and charcoal pencil.
"That is a lie!" Denna said firmly, highly affronted at ever being compared to a wrinkly potato.
"Think what you want but all babies look funny after they are born."
"All babies except me! Papa said I was the most beautiful little thing,"
"Papa says that about all of you," Sigurd began to sketch the scene in front of him, pretending to ignore Denna's petulant stare.
"Give it a month and the babies will be super cute," Hermione said still stroking Denna's back. "Why don't you go over there and see if Daddy will let you hold Imogen."
Denna wrinkled her nose but pushed off the bed anyway and went to where Draco was murmuring to Imogen.
Sigurd kept drawing, keeping his attention focused on his project, but spoke just loud enough for Hermione to hear. "The Healer pulled me aside and asked if we wanted to find out who the biological fathers were for our kids. I told him we would discuss it. In reality, we all love the children equally. They are all Malfoys, so what does it really matter, but the Healer mentioned having a comprehensive medical history of both parents would be helpful in the long run, especially if one of us falls sick to a genetic predisposition."
"Have you talked to the others?" Hermione whispered.
"They don't care either way. But I think if it is for their health in the future, perhaps it is something worth looking in to. It wouldn't change anything so what harm would it do?"
"How is it done?"
"He would take a small blood sample from each child and mix it with a potion created with blood from all of the potential Sires."
"None of my children's blood is going to leave our presence,"
"Ours either. There is only one potion Master I would trust to do this…" Lucius said from the other side of the bed.
Hermione snorted. "What do you think he will say?"
"Probably something along the lines of how he is taken advantage of. He will say it with a straight face and spoil the children hideously while our backs are turned."
"If he agrees, then let's do it," Sigurd nodded, and their attention was drawn by a chair zooming across the room to land at Denna's side. Denna looked adorably proud of herself. Draco looked a bit stunned- frozen in a half turn to the chair behind him. A chair he was obviously intending on moving for Denna. Apparently, she couldn't wait that long and took matters into her own hands.
"Well done Denna," Abraxas boomed proudly from where he sat, Klaus on his shoulder.
**HGHG**
Five small vials of blood were placed in a holder directly to the right of the cauldron that Snape had been slaving over for hours. Narcissa, unhelpful in the wake of more grandchildren to dote over, left him in a surly bereft mood. He didn't like to share her with anyone, but he knew she would have none of it. Plus, even though he disliked children in general, he had a fondness for the Malfoy spawn.
"And all you have to do is add one of the children's blood at a time?" Hermione asked.
"Well," he sneered. "After you separate the potion. It is a one-use test. When I added the blood of your husbands, the potion had turned a specific color for each. I have recorded them here." He jabbed his finger against the heavily splotched parchment on the table. "When we add the children's blood, the brew will turn the color of the biological father. Simple."
"Okay," Hermione said, bouncing on the balls of her feet, excited to learn more about the advanced potion. Snape merely rolled his eyes, already well acquainted with Hermione and her need to consume information. He let out a long-suffering sigh.
Once the potion had been separated into four little dishes, Severus called to gather the others around to watch.
"Blue for Abraxas, green for Draco, yellow for Sigurd, and red for Lucius," Snape began as he uncorked the first tiny vial. Denna's. "I am going to allow three drops of blood for each dish. Three opposed to one drop will only affect the vibrancy of the result. Any more than that would compromise the result."
The room turned silent as the group waited with baited breath. Curiosity was a powerful thing.
Seconds after the third little drops of blood touched the surface, the potion turned a dark a deep garnet red.
Five smiles lit the room. Lucius was Denna's father. Hermione secretly wondered if he had gotten her pregnant on the balcony against the glass door before he left to get the Hazia for Narcissa. Maybe later they can try an encore performance once she was cleared by the healer… It was something to look forward to, even it was weeks away.
Next, Snape uncorked the vial of Layla's blood and poured the required amount into the next bowl.
As it was with Denna's, the moment the blood hit the potion it changed colors, this time a bright yellow. Sigurd was Layla's father.
Three drops of Imogen's blood were added to the third bowl, turning a dark Slytherin green. Draco.
Now for the last, Klaus. They were pretty sure that both Imogen and Klaus were Draco's but there always was that slim chance that they weren't. There were a few stories floating around. Though improbable, it isn't impossible that twins could have different fathers if they weren't identical. And they were obviously not, being of different genders and all. But as Klaus' blood was added to the last dish, his too turned into the same dark green of Imogen's. Both children were Draco's.
Hermione glanced at Abraxas out of the corner of her eye and noted that he looked slightly disappointed, although she could tell it didn't change anything for any of them.
**HGHG**
Hermione stood in Ollivanders wand shop with quite a bit of trepidation. Bastillion was now eleven and had received his Hogwarts letter the week before.
She was nervous because she didn't know what the wand choosing would mean for him. He had a part of Tom Riddle in him. He was the last Lestrange. He was Luna's son. Adopted by Hermione and the Malfoys. It was a strange melting pot of genetics and circumstance.
Mr. Ollivander bustled back to the front of the shop and handed Bast his first wand. Cherry and unicorn hair, twelve and a half inches. Slightly springy.
Immediately the ledger exploded into a ball of fire, turning the book into a small pile of ash.
"Nope…" Ollivander said seemingly uncaring of the destruction of the books and handed the boy the next wand.
Hazel and dragon heartstring. Eleven inches. Rigid.
This time, a small section of the wooden floor exploded, and the trio ducked to avoid some of the larger splinters. Within seconds the wand was taken from Bast and another was slid into its place.
Yew and Phoenix Feather. Twelve inches. Slightly springy.
A choir of angels sang in the background as golden sparks swirled around the boy.
"An unusual wand for an unusual child. Powerful…" Ollivander muttered.
"Thank you," Bast breathed, all the wonder and feeling of magic settling in his soul as if a piece of himself had been missing his whole life.
Hermione paid, and she bustled him out of the shop determined more than ever to make sure that the part of him that was Tom Riddle stayed dormant. Forever.
**HGHG**
The steam of the Hogwarts Express caused clouds of white smoke to swirl around platform 9 ¾. The Malfoys prepared to send their first child to Hogwarts. Bastillion Lestrange would face much more adversity than any of their other children and this made Hermione sick with worry. What if he was an outcast. What if he was treated cruelly by the entire school. What if he hated it?
Hermione resolved to teach him herself if it came down to it. She didn't eradicate Voldemort so that her son would be abused at the hand of the wizarding world. Though not of her body, it made little difference to her feelings. He felt like hers. And she would do anything to honor Luna. Neville would be at Hogwarts, she reminded herself as she tearfully pulled Bast into her arms.
"I will be fine, Mum," Bast whispered, awkwardly patting Hermione on the back while glancing over her shoulder at the multitude of other people on the platform as they gawked, star-struck, at the large intimidating group of Malfoys, Potters, and Blacks.
Teddy walked up behind them and smacked Bast on the shoulder. "I will look after him, Auntie Mi,"
She rolled her eyes. Teddy was a known troublemaker.
"I'll write every day," Bast promised, backing away as the train whistled for the last call, his luggage already loaded. Hermione walked along the wooden platform, keeping up with his progress. She watched as Teddy led him into a compartment filled with his own friends
**HGHG**
"Ha! Slytherin! Abraxas you owe me a hundred galleons!" Lucius crowed as he read the letter Bastillion sent them last night after the sorting.
It had been a toss-up between that and Ravenclaw- only Hermione saw the Gryffindor in him.
"Tsk," Abraxas rolled his eyes, reaching into his pocket for his bag of gold. "Not Slytherin enough to not end up in Slytherin with a name like Lestrange in this day and age."
"Abraxas!" Hermione said scandalized. "The hat should place him where he is most suited,"
"I'm just saying… not everyone knows he belongs to you, Hermione. They may treat him like the son of a Death Eater."
"That is how they could treat our children,"
"Not bloody likely. How quickly they all forgot our prior allegiance after the war was won. Not complaining, but all the same, we are almost as respected as our wife."
"Do you really think people will be cruel to him?" Hermione worried, biting her lower lip as her stomach rolled with anxiety.
"No." Draco said shooting an unimpressed look at Abraxas. "If there is anyone in the magical UK that doesn't know Bastillion may as well be a Malfoy I would be surprised. They must have been living under the most secluded rock known to man. Has he ever been mistreated by the public before?"
"No,"
"There you go," Draco said. "Bast will be just fine. He is smart, Slytherin, and has all of us on his side. He will be fine. You make it sound as if he is all alone up there in Scotland but remember that Neville is there. As is McGonagall, Flitwick, and Bill Weasley. You know how he felt about Luna- still feels about her, to be honest. He positively dotes on Bast. It's almost shameful to spoil a child so much. And if that isn't enough, I heard that Potter was considering taking the Defense post next year after Professor Winkler leaves."
Hermione visibly relaxed. Bast would be okay. It was the mother in her refusing to let go of the little boy that made his way into her heart so thoroughly. But he was growing up as was natural and right. That didn't make it hurt any less.
"And," Lucius said with a smirk, separating another parchment that had been included and turned it around showing the room what it was. A drawing of a girl deep in thought wearing the Gryffindor insignia. Bast had scrawled her name at the bottom.
Sarah Kettleburn.
"Seems like the boy learned a few things about expressing his feelings from Sigurd,"
Sigurd smirked, raising a single brow in pride. "He is getting better. Adding more detail."
"He is a quick study,"
"Psh," Hermione said. "They are only eleven. It's just puppy love,"
"My feelings for you were more than puppy love," Draco said. "And I liked you before Hogwarts."
"Merlin, help us," Abraxas said. "It has already begun."
"What has?"
"The boy is handsome, intelligent, and has excellent breeding. Don't get in a huff my Dear," He added seeing Hermione puff up in anger. "by breeding I mean how he was raised not his blood status." He rolled his eyes. Clearly, he didn't buy into that dogma anymore. "There will be an endless stream of interested girls. Some he will like, some he will feel indifferent about, and some he will loathe but will be a gentleman and let them all down kindly as he was taught. If he has learned anything from watching us, he will have learned that the right woman is worth waiting for, worth wooing, worth the effort, worth the sacrifices."
Hermione nearly melted into a puddle, right there on the settee as Abraxas stared meaningfully at her.
"And if he isn't a complete dolt, someday, he might even tell her," Eight-year-old Denna quipped from the floor as she played marbles with Layla and Klaus. Imogen was passed out with her head on Denna's back, cuddling like a tiny kitten.
Abraxas rolled his eyes skyward and raked his hand down his face, something that he did often when Denna said something strange. Which was quite often.
"I'll bet you three chocolate frogs he botches the whole thing," Denna said to Layla who just shrugged.
"You two are a bad influence. Look at the girls betting on Bast's love life," Hermione chided Lucius and Abraxas.
Both had the gall to look unaffected by the scolding.
"Look, My Love, I need to get creative where I find my amusements as I enter into my old age…" Abraxas said unapologetically.
"Old age my foot, Brax," She said. "You are not even middle-aged."
"If you count the years before I died the first time, I am bordering into decrepit."
"Good thing you had the body of a thirty-two-year-old when you came back," she teased. "I have no idea what coming back as your real age would have done for your ego…"
**HGHG**
"Look, I'm not saying he got up to as much nonsense as we did when we were in school," Harry said. "but things just happen to the kid. I relate. I do. But we both know that he is brilliant and sneaky. He constantly butted heads with Professor Winkler, the Defense professor. And now its February and the man has gone missing. Good thing I was here anyway running an errand for Dad." Harry said avoiding Hermione's piercing eyes.
"And what does his disappearance have to do with my son?" she asked dangerously.
"I caught him bragging to a bunch of sixth years that is was him that drove Winkler out of the castle."
"He said he did it?" Hermione asked, confirming what she had just heard. Harry nodded. "Bring him in…"
Bast walked into the classroom after Harry called for him, head hung low.
"Professor Potter said you were bragging that you got rid of a professor. That's a very serious thing. What do you have to say?"
"They make my life difficult. It's Terrance Montague, Belcher Flint, and Seth Warrington. They keep trying to toughen me up, propping me up as the next Voldemort. They are always on my case. So, I snapped. I admitted that I did it, to scare them, to make them back off. And it worked. I don't regret it! They started bullying Sarah when they found out that she was a half-blood and that I liked her. I had to protect her. They keep telling me that my blood is pure, and it should stay that way. I'm sick of it!" Bast was breathing fast as if he had run a marathon.
"You told them that you got rid of a professor to scare them into leaving Sarah alone? But you had nothing to do with your professor's disappearance?"
"Yes. I was protecting Sarah! I definitely didn't have anything to do with the professor leaving. He was weird, always treating me like a star pupil. Not pleasant when your classmates corner you after class."
"I see," Hermione said turning to Harry. "Were you aware of the intense bullying that has been going on here?"
"What like Malfoy and us? Or Snape and my dad?"
"Don't you dare make light of this situation Harry Potter."
"I'm not! I'm just saying that kids find a way to bully so that the adults don't find out. Kids can be cruel and sneaky when they want to be."
"Fix this Potter," She said rising from her seat, pointing her finger between his eyes. Harry gulped knowing that she didn't need a wand to be fatal. Not since she had learned to control those natural abilities. "Or else."
Harry nodded and watched silently as Hermione kissed the top of Bast's head before walking out of the floo.
"If there is any more of that going on, tell me right away," Harry said seriously to Bast.
Bast scoffed. "If I always ran to a teacher, my life would just get harder. Don't worry. I'll take care of myself."
"I will watch and do what I can. Come to me if you ever just need a cup of tea and a safe place,"
"Thanks, Uncle Harry!"
"It's Professor Potter now, Mr. Lestrange."
Bast rolled his eyes and strolled out the door.
"Now what the hell happened to Professor Winkler," Harry Potter murmured to himself.
**HGHG**
Sundays were always an exercise in patience and serenity for Hermione. Sunday dinner was the one time a week that all the family came to the Manor. Harry, Ginny, Narcissa, Severus, Bellatrix, Eliza, James, Sirius, Bill, and Regulus converged on the Malfoys. That included all children who were under Hogwarts age during the school year and every single one of them during summer vacation.
Bellatrix had spent years earning her way into Hermione and her children's lives. It was to everyone's surprise when she continued to do well in her new role. Perhaps it was the fact that she lived with Eliza. Perhaps it was a testament to her love for Hermione. Perhaps it was the way the torture chamber twisted her mind. No one would ever truly know.
It was a madhouse. Everyone speaking over each other, laughter filled the room along with a healthy dose of bickering. Sigurd latest drawing was hung as became a weekly tradition. It may have been crazy, but it was her family. And she cherished all the moments they had built together. Who would have thought she would be the cornerstone of such a large, boisterous, and loving family?
