Final Chapter! Thanks to all the readers who made it to the end!

All rights belong to the creator of Harry Potter and his world: J.K. Rowling.

For suggesting I write a sequel to Wrong Life, my gratitude goes to camnz.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Celebration

Testifying before the Wizengamot led to distasteful memories resurfacing from the past, but this time around each person played a different part. Hermione played the role of Astoria, relentless hunter of all things trendy. She left the investigative reporting to Harry who relished leaving the role of boy savior behind. And instead of Death Eater on trial, Draco played the role of an eager businessman.

Harry had the most experience testifying before the Wizengamot. Astoria was concerned that one look at her favorite witch, Dolores Umbridge, would bring a vicious and vocal Hermione out of hiding. Draco worked on his casual, comfortable persona (friendly might be going a bit too far) because he knew that a stiff, proper Malfoy could seem cold, calculating, and possibly devious to the council.

The Malfoys weren't technically on trial, but they had significant investments at stake. The Ministry of Magic had assumed that a slap on the wrist would bring the Malfoys into line, but actually, if not resolved soon, the demise of Malfoy Enterprises could cause an economic downturn in the entire Wizarding world. Would the Ministry end the freeze on Malfoy money? Would they approve of Draco's new venture into Muggle communications? Would the Wizengamot consider the journalism of Magical Parenting Today to be acceptable to the Wizarding world? What would happen to free speech?

The most confident person by far during the Wizengamot session had been Lucius Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy had been politicking. Discreet conversations had been held behind closed doors while Astoria and Draco had been having adventures, near death experiences, and marriage trouble. It should not be presumed that Lucius Malfoy threatened, bribed, or blackmailed any witches or wizards on the Wizengamot, but he did have substantial reason to believe that any judgment reached by the Wizengamot concerning his family and their business affairs would be favorable.

He was right.

Ron Weasley lumbered into the Burrow holding an invitation. "What's this?" he asked incredulously. "I've been invited to Malfoy Manor? Why on earth would I want to go there? Once was enough for me!"

Molly shook a finger at him. "Now, Ron," she began. "If you are a son of mine, you will go with a smile. You will wear your best clothes. You will be polite. You will not say anything insulting to your hosts. The invitation is for the entire Weasley family, and we will make a good showing."

"All right, Mum, all right. So do I bring the wife and kids? That is a little weird for me."

"Yes. You should both come and do bring the children. The Malfoys are planning some entertainment for the children. Let's put it this way...they won't be bored."

The Malfoy celebration was three-fold: first, to celebrate the success of Magical Parenting Today, second, to cheer the launch of the latest Malfoy business venture, WizTeC, and third... well, the third was Draco's secret.

The Harry Potter Family had been the latest cover story for Magical Parenting Today; it had not been an easy feat to procure Harry. He granted Hermione the favor after their narrow win at the recent Wizengamot session because he did appreciate her genuine efforts to help Wizards better understand Muggles. Besides the 37 year old "Boy Who Lived", the magazine featured his red-headed wife, his brown haired children, and the flying broomstick caravan he had invented when his children were too small to fly their own broomsticks. Harry nixed the photos Jane wanted to take of his Cupboard Under the Stairs on Privet Drive. Harry vetoed any photography of Number 12 Grimmauld Place or Shell Cottage. Jane had to improvise, so held the photo shoot at a friend's beach house. Most of the Potter family photos included broomsticks, so Jane Creevey even had to mount a broom and take photos of the Potter family while flying. Harry did feel uncomfortable placing his children before the public eye, but his family end up enjoying a free trip to the seaside, so all was well. Strange to say, his distaste for publicity gave him an unusual bond of affinity with Draco Malfoy, perhaps bringing the families a bit closer. With the Harry Potter feature, Magical Parenting Today steadily gained in popularity. Three more journalists had been added and many more advertisers. All were invited to the celebration at the Malfoy Manor.

To entertain their young guests, Hermione and her children had planned broomstick races, fishing in the Malfoy pond for magical goldfish children could take home, and Capture the Flag, a Muggle game described in the latest issue of Magical Parenting Today. They also had music and dancing for the entire family. Babies and toddlers could be dropped off in the Malfoy nursery to nap or play under strict supervision. The blanket fort was still set up for the little ones inside the Manor, but Scorpius and Draco had spent time building a tree house outside for the older children. Hopefully, all the children coming to the party would fit into the tree house, but if not, they could easily expand it. Cassie had used her artistic talents to decorate-the tree house, the tables, the blanket fort-she decorated wherever her mum would let her and some places that she wouldn't.

Narcissa and Hermione greeted all the guests one by one and ushered them inside to the reception area for food and drinks. Later the gathering would move outside to tour the gardens and watch the children's games. Hermione was wearing a white dress that Draco had chosen specially for the occasion. She trusted his fashion sense better than her own and loved the satiny swish of the skirts as she moved from guest to guest.

When Harry and Ginny and their children arrived at Malfoy Manor, Hermione grew teary-eyed. She rushed toward them and hugged them happily, forgetting that today she was supposed to be Astoria. She remembered, of course, when she caught sight of Ron's appalled face and turned to more formally shake his hand and welcome him to Malfoy Manor. Draco followed her and also shook both Harry's and Ron's hands before turning to Arthur Weasley. Molly, of course, greeted Astoria and Draco with a very tight hug as if they were her own family. Best day ever, thought Hermione with a sigh. George and Angelina came with their twins. Percy even turned up.

The surprise Draco had planned began after the guests had all arrived. He led Hermione and the Malfoy children up to a small platform in the center of the ballroom. The guests gathered around. Draco welcomed everyone, thanked them for joining their celebration, and invited them to share in the ceremony as he and Astoria renewed their marriage vows. The children stepped back into the crowd.

Hermione froze.

"Draco," she hissed, turning to clutch his arm, "what are you thinking? This is not the plan."

"It is the plan," he whispered back. "Remember when you said that I had married the wrong wife? Well, I want to make sure we both know that I married Hermione Granger."

"You want to announce to everyone my true identity?"

"No, you'll still be Astoria to them."

Hermione looked furious. "You can't do this to me in front of all these people," she hissed.

"I'm sorry, I thought you'd like it."

"I'm not a wedding type of person."

Didn't every woman like a wedding? Apparently, not his woman. Draco lost his usual confidence and looked at her uncertainly. "Will you go through the ceremony for me, then?"

Hermione faltered as she stared worriedly into his eyes. When she saw the pain she had caused Draco, her heart melted. "Yes," she responded steadily to his question, but she still frowned.

Draco unexpectedly turned her around to face the crowd. She gazed at her children standing near Harry and Ginny's children with Ron's children nearby. Ron! Hermione thought. I was heart-broken that I couldn't attend his wedding as Astoria, but now he can attend mine! A smile came to her lips. She gazed at Arthur and Molly Weasley, who was holding a plump Gemini Malfoy in her arms, at Blaise and Cho Zabini, and her proud editorial team, Anna McGuire, Roy Thomas, Gloria Van Duzen, and Jane Creevey. Jane had her camera out and was busy snapping pictures. Hermione saw Lucius and Narcissa near the flowers. The Greengrasses had appeared, along with Daphne and her son. Cassie and Lily Potter were watching her intently, so she smiled at them both. Scorp stood near Albus with a twisted smile. Something is funny to him, thought Hermione curiously. What is it? Her younger boys, Orion and Leo, were bouncing in the crowd near Damian Zabini. George Weasley raised his glass to her, and she felt cheered. Even the house elves standing in the shadows felt like beloved family. Harry beamed at her, and Astoria grinned back. She was happy, so happy that everyone was there to celebrate with her.

When they turned back to the official, Draco whispered into her ear, "I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, take you, Hermione Jean Granger, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as we both shall live."

After he finished whispering, he repeated the words using Astoria's name. Then it was her turn.

I guess we are doubly married now, thought Hermione as she smiled at her sweet husband. The magic silver bond that wrapped around their clasped hands and wrists was unchanged, but Draco was right, it meant more now. She threw her arms around his neck and planted a huge kiss on his lips. The audience clapped and cheered.

"You are the right wife for me, Hermione Granger Malfoy, and don't ever forget it. I love you exactly as you are, and I want you to be yourself in our home and out in the world," Draco said quietly in her ear.

"Oh, Draco," she breathed. He leaned in to hear her declaration of love.

Instead she whispered with a sparkle in her eye, "Now can we free the house elves?"

He threw back his silvery blond head and laughter filled the room.

Finis

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