A/N: And the Epilogue that was promised. Again, thanks to all of you lovely readers! Review and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
2 Years Later.
Hermione stopped, leaning on the old gate before her. Her fingers danced along the metal bars. She wondered for about the millionth time what had possessed her to come here.
She really shouldn't have. She really was meant to be resting…
Her free hand went to her swollen stomach, and like that her motivation returned like a vengeance.
She pushed open the gates and walked slowly into the plot. Her eyes drifted along the stones reading the carved names on each.
A long line. A long legacy. That much hadn't been an exaggeration.
She stopped then, catching sight of the name she'd been searching for.
Lucius Malfoy.
Father and Husband.
In the end I was human.
She shifted on her feet as she took in the charmed flowers surrounding the grave. After a moment she drew her wand and transfigured a chair from a bobby pin she pulled from her hair.
She sat down, her hand automatically coming to rest on her stomach as bit of pain flared and quickly faded.
"It must be shocking, having me come here." She began before leaning back on her chair.
"To tell you the truth I'm not quite sure why I am either, but." she bit her lip, "I thought you should know about your grandson. Your portrait...it's not the same."
She laughed then. "But I suppose Narcissa must keep you updated all the time."
She shook her head. It really made for an absurd scene. She really hadn't known the man, and what she had known was a handful of contradictions. Yet, this had been a nagging thought in the back of her mind as she'd progressed with her pregnancy.
She glanced down at her hand as she twisted the ring on her finger.
"I suppose you know Draco and I got married last year." She said softly, "I almost wanted to wait- to make sure, really make sure he was well enough. He...he got so sick. Two cleanses and each one was just more horrible then the next." She blinked quickly at the building moisture in her eyes as she recalled it.
"But you know Draco," She smiled slightly, "He can barely sit still, constantly going. He's wasted no time. He got into the Healer program, and was placed at level 3 out of a 4 level program. He graduates at the end of the year." She rolled her eyes then laughing, "Though he's practically been seeing patients on his own since he was accepted."
Oh yes, that had been an interesting time. The board of directors had scarcely known what to do with ,him after seeing his results, but Draco had felt it was like cheating for them to simply hand him a diploma after only a few short months of studying. He'd added a Potion's mastery to his program of study to lengthen the time, using the argument of also increasing his clinical exposure to compliment his theoretical knowledge.
Nerd. She thought with a bemused smile pulling at her mouth.
"You probably wish he'd take over for you, the family businesses, and he will. He's not ready yet." She murmured twisting her ring again. "He's been seeing a Mind Healer for everything, the visions, even if they have calmed and he's a thousand times better at controlling when and if they come on…" She let out a breath. "He still feels so guilty, but he's getting there. Until then, Narcissa's managing well."
"And that leaves me." She flashed a wide smile.
It had certainly been a whirlwind 2 years.
First, the aftermath of war and the rebuilding. She'd found her parents and though it had taken some time she'd gotten them back. They were still navigating their reconnected relationship. They may have understood her reasoning for the memory charm, but it had still been hard to accept after it was all said and done.
And of course there was Theo and the small family they'd formed together.
Her parents had accepted him with open arms, practically adopting him. Something she was forever grateful for.
He'd fit in quickly. Sunday dinners and holidays. Her mother had practically planned Theo and Daphne 's wedding earlier that year.
Her smile widened remembering it. There had been quite a few weddings recently. Harry and Ginny had all but eloped 7 months after the battle, and rumor had it that Blaise was looking to pop the question soon to Luna.
Draco had admitted that the other man had come and asked for his blessing as Luna's unofficial family head not too long ago.
It was all very sweet.
But those memories were not the ones she thought her father-in-law would be interested in hearing.
"Well my family's obviously grown." She said glancing back to read the name once more. "I started at the University of Magical Law in London not long after the war ended and graduated a few months ago. It surprised a lot of people when I didn't immediately take a job with the Ministry."
She sighed.
"Maybe at one point I would have, but after that war...I don't think the Ministry is the place I need to be to get things done." She laughed to herself at that. "I can put out proposals to the Wizengamot because of the Malfoy family seat." She smirked, "and I do class action and civil service cases the rest of the time. I think, after I've done all I want to do, I'll retire to pro bono work, maybe open up a bookshop as I work on a Mastery of my own. After all, as it stands, your son is entirely two smug about his dual degrees and titles when compared to my measly one. He flaunts it every chance he gets." She laughed.
"I'm so proud of him." She whispered running her stomach, "I'm proud of the life we've built, and part of me wishes you could see it. Meet him." She glanced down at her middle.
"We settled on a name the other day. I gave in to Draco's choice since… well he was just so excited when we found out. I don't think he expected he'd be able to have children after all the potions, and frankly I wasn't sure I would be-" her voice cracked. She cleared her throat and smiled. "But Scorpius here is a miracle. Scorpius Granger Malfoy."
She pulled her wand once more and conjured a single white rose and placed it at the grave.
"I wanted you to meet him, and maybe one day when I can finally convince Draco to come visit with me, you'll see us all. If this one ever does decide to come out that is." She laughed to herself as she stood slowly and re transfigured the chair into her hair pin.
Draco sighed, running a stray hand through his hair before shrugging his healer robes off and placing them into his locker.
He'd just worked the first 12 hours of his last double shift before he took leave to stay with Hermione. He may have wanted to just work through the next 12 or so hours, but he'd been told in no uncertain terms to take a 2 hour lunch before coming back.
And he had plans apparently.
He shook his head, washing his face in an attempt to freshen up before heading out and entering the cafe across the street.
He smiled slightly as he took a seat with a dark haired woman already at the table.
She turned and flashed him a smile.
"Well you look like shit."
"Thanks Pans." He chortled before looking down and studying the menu.
Pansy rolled her eyes at his antics.
He grinned before gesturing for the waitress and giving his order.
These periodic Slytherin reunions had started not too long after he'd started at St Mungo's. They'd each missed the banter that could only be found amongst themselves, and frankly most of them needed a break from their blunter and often times headstrong counterparts.
He shook his head in amusement before he turned back to Pansy and took in her face. She was biting her lip and idly tapping her fingers.
He sat back.
Pansy ignored his look, busying herself with her menu. "Theo and Blaise should be here soon, and -"
"Pans."
"Daphne's not coming apparently she needed help on something from your mother and Andromeda-"
"Pansy." He said firmly, reaching over and clasping his and over hers.
She let out a breath before looking up to meet his gaze.
"What's wrong Pans?"
She shook her head, biting her lip.
"I saw Millie the other day."
He tilted his head, biting his lip to keep from firing off one of the many questions going through his head.
"We. We talked."
At her hesitance to elaborate a terrible thought flitted to the surface.
"Do you.." He swallowed roughly, "Pans do you still-"
"No." She interrupted quickly, "No." She bit her lip.
"Maybe once, but...but it was supposed to be easy. Fun. A way to stick it to my Mother." She ran her hands through her hair before letting them rest at her shoulders.
"I thought if I saw her again...I don't know. I don't think I could ever forget that she left. I understand it. Forgive it. But she still-"
"Left you." he finished for her.
She nodded.
He studied her face for a moment. "It's closure Pansy."
She smiled slightly, "Yeah. Feels weird."
He barked out a laugh.
"I just. I guess. It's just strange. I mean Ron and I, Millie shouldn't have mattered." She said.
"You and Weasley back together?" He raised a brow.
A sly look pulled at the corners of her mouth.
"We're never really broken up. We're both just too dramatic for our own good."
He scowled at Pansy's smirk.
"Please don't share."
She burst out in laughter as his scowl deepened.
"I'm almost scared to ask."
They both turned to catch sight of Theo and Blaise.
Pansy howled louder as he shook his head with a slight smirk.
"Just don't."
Hermione sighed as the portkey dropped her in front of the sprawling estate.
Malfoy Manor was nearly unrecognizable now. The entire thing had practically been demolished and rebuilt anew.
Draco and Narcissa had wanted to reclaim their home as their own, every floor had been stripped and redone. Even the grounds felt different.
It didn't completely put her at ease; though, when renovations were done and Narcissa had moved back in with Andromeda and Teddy in tow. She and Draco had moved to a flat and lived there up until the point she'd found out she was pregnant. After that, they'd sold the flat and moved to the Manor both for the space and Narcissa's help. If they would move back out later still remained to be seen. Afterall, blood wards were powerful and such things couldn't be overlooked.
Besides, the gardens alone were worth her initial discomfort.
They were absolutely breathtaking.
She walked slowly down the path from the apparition point toward the main entrance.
The doors opened for her automatically, and she continued down the hall to the sitting room to the side.
She paused listening to the squeal of Teddy's laughter before she pushed open the door.
"Oh Hermione, I'd wondered where you'd gone off to."
She smiled in greeting to Narcissa and strode over to join the congregate of ladies around her.
Her mother-in-law was still very much a socialite, though, the crowd she tended to invite was vastly different than before.
Luna sat by her aunt with Andromeda to the side followed by Daphne, Ginny, and even Molly Weasley was there.
"You really shouldn't be exerting yourself too much." Narcissa chided before moving to the side and motioning her to have a seat.
Hermione grinned before stopping to plant a kiss on Teddy's head and did the same to 2 year old Victorie before she finally did sit.
She rubbed her stomach at the twinge of pain before falling easily into conversation with the others.
Luna was back from her recent expedition in South Africa, hinting that this time her stay may be a little more permanent.
Daphne was thinking about opening another apothecary. Her first had been a success in Diagon Alley, especially when she'd begun selling various beauty potions, creams, and shampoos in addition to the standard potion making supplies.
Andromeda and Narcissa were looking to finance another charity and were asking what she'd heard about various ones.
Then just as Ginny was beginning her tale about the latest disaster that had occurred in the Harpy's locker room another shot of pain hit her forcing a grimace on her face.
Narcissa, ever perceptive, saw it.
"Hermione?"
"Mhmm." She murmured before blinking and focusing on the concerned faces around her.
"I'm-" Her voice cracked as the feeling of wetness settled between her legs. "My water broke."
Draco rolled his eyes at Pansy and Blaise's bickering as he finished his coffee. He glanced at his watch, noting it was about time to head back for the next half of his shift when a patronus appeared before them.
He'd barely registered Luna's voice before he was out of his seat and practically running back to St. Mungo's.
He bolted down the white halls not bothering with the lifts, turning to the left for the stairs as he dashed up to the level 4 Maternity ward.
He made it, nearly out of breath, to the Mediwitch station.
"I need to know if Malfoy's been brought in." He said leaning over the desk, "Hermione Malfoy."
The lone witch at the desk looked up startled and on recognizing him, her mouth fell open.
"Healer Malfoy, I-"
"My wife." he interrupted her not particularly in the mood to hear any pleasantries.
The girl stammered obviously somewhat intimidated by his, no doubt, frantic appearance.
"Draco." Pansy said coming up behind him and laying a hand on his arm. "Stop scaring the poor girl."
He blinked, only just comprehending that his friends had followed after him as he took a breath to calm himself.
Pansy stepped forward.
"We're looking for Hermione Malfoy. She should have just been brought in with-"
"Oh Draco there you are!"
He whirled to the side catching sight of Astoria in her Mediwitch robes coming towards them. Out of the corner of his eye he made out the other Mediwitch sigh in relief at the sight of her superior.
"She's in room 410 at the end of the hall. Just got in." She said with a small smile as she pointed it out for him.
He nodded and spun on his heel to head that way before turning back at the last second.
He met Theo's gaze.
"Can you get her parents. It's a work day so they'd be at their practice and…"
"Draco." Theo interrupted before flashing him a grin, "I know. Now go to my sister."
He returned the gesture before the worry forced it off his face and he sprinted to room 410, bursting in without even knocking.
Hermione was up on the bed, sweat already collecting at her brow and both her hands gripping the railings of her bed. He made out the odd assortment of women also crowding the room, but didn't even pause to greet anyone as he walked straight toward Hermione.
She blinked, meeting his eyes before a small smirk settled on her lips.
"Finally." She said, "I thought you being a Healer and all would mean you'd be here as soon as I came in."
He allowed himself a small smile.
"I was at lunch. Practically ordered to take a break." He said coming up and taking her hand and was not in the least surprised when she pulled him into join her in the bed.
"Oh my gods Draco." She whispered low enough so that the rest of the people around them couldn't hear. "I'm going to have a baby."
He chuckled lowly before placing a swift peck at her temple.
"I know love."
"We're going to be parents." She continued.
"You know you'll be a fantastic Mum."
She bit her lip, but he could tell that those words had eased some of the anxiety that had crept up on her.
"Alright. Alright." She murmured before turning to the others. He kissed her, this time going for her lips before he shooed everyone out.
He took her hand and let his other brush her hair out of her eyes as he began whispering soft words of encouragement.
As a contraction hit her, she writhed beneath his grasp, clutching his hand so hard he was sure she would break his fingers.
He hoped, for both their sakes, this would not be a long day
It took 6 hours before Hermione heard her son's cry for the first time.
6 hours and her vision was blurry with tears and probably sweat.
Draco tore himself away from her after she'd pushed him to check on him instead of hovering over her.
He held his hands out and hesitantly took the swaddled red faced bundle from the Mediwitch's hands. She saw him bite his lip and murmur something to their infant son with an unmistakable look of awe on his face.
She pulled herself up, and though exhausted, she still called for Draco and held her hands out for the little bundle in his hands. Draco placed him securely in her arms with a large smile still on his face.
She smiled in turn before before letting her fingers gently part the blond bits of hair on his head.
Scorpius.
At her touch, he blinked for a moment before closing his eyes again and burrowing in her arms. It had been enough though to notice the pale, nearly slate, blue of his eyes that hinted they wouldn't remain blue for long.
"Look at you." she whispered as Scorpius wrapped his small hand around her finger. "Look how perfect you are."
Draco had settled beside her letting her lean back on his chest with his arm around her shoulders.
"He's amazing." Draco murmured kissing her temple.
She smiled wider.
"He's ours."