Signed, Sealed, Delivered

by PrincessoftheWood

What happens when Hermione Granger is told she is unrelatable and needs to become relatable to the public to gain the title and career she's dreamt of since graduating from Hogwarts? What will happen when becoming relatable means going after the one dream she never thought would come true? This story comes from a plunny from my amazing beta, the incomparable, Acantha Rayne OakMoon.

7. Gringotts, Gingers & Grangers

Draco woke up the next morning with a renewed sense of purpose and feeling the nervous excitement he associated with scheming coursing through him - Slytherins don't plan, they scheme. He sent Brix with a pleading note to Daphne to see if she would take Scorpius for the day. Once the elf returned with Daphne's affirmation that she would pick Scorp up after breakfast, he went to check on his son. Brix had mentioned, when Draco enquired about his son's wakefulness, that "Master Scorpius woke before the Sun, sir, and is in the nursery playing with his dragons'. Thanking Brix, he made his way to Scorpius's room. He tied his robe around his waist as he leaned against the door to Scorp's room, a small smile playing on his lips as he watched his son pretending to make his dragons breathe fire and voicing ferocious roars for the furry little beasts.

"Ready for breakfast, Scorp?" He asked as he entered the room.

"Goooood mowning, Daddy!" Scorp smiled happily at his father, standing up to hug a leg.

Draco chuckled and kneeled down in front of Scorp, "Good morning, little man. Do you want breakfast?"

"Bweakfast!" Scorpius shouted, excitedly, once again demonstrating his universal signal for being picked up. A tumble down the last four steps of the main staircase last year had scared him into wanting to be carried everywhere; especially when stairs were involved. Draco scooped the boy up into his arms and carried him out of the room, down the stairs to the dining room and into his chair where Brix had set the table for breakfast. As Scorp settled into his seat, the food appeared in front of them and the boy began telling his father about all the fun he and Hermione had had the day before.

"Mummy tooked me to the pawk! She let me pway on the swides and she pushed me on the swings! We went on a rouda-thingy too. It's a circle that we stand on and Mummy spun us awound on it! Then we had fish and chips for dinner. It was sooooooo yummy. Mummy said 'daddy pwobly never twied fish and chips'. Have you daddy?" Scorpius asked between bites of sausage and egg sandwich that Brix had cut into quarters for him.

After swallowing his own mouthful, Draco shook his head, "I don't think I have, Scorp. What was it like?"

Scorp's eyes got very wide and he said, rather insistently, "You weeally need to twy it, Daddy! It's weeally yummy!"

"Maybe you and Mummy can take me with you next time." Draco crossed his fingers in hope behind his back and smiled, "But today, Aunt Daphne is coming to pick you up for the day, kiddo, so I can get a few things done, okay?"

Scorpius beamed at the idea of spending time with his aunt and nodded enthusiastically, "Yes! Yes, yes, yes. Aunt Daph-nee gives me sweeties and lets me play with Unkle F-eo's cwup!"

Draco laughed and shook his head, "Well, maybe she'll give you sweeties today and you can save some for your old dad."

Scorpius's excitement level went through the roof and he dropped the last bite of his sandwich with a flair of finality, "I'm done, daddy. Can I go get weddy now, pweeeeease!"

Draco sighed but nodded, "Come on then. Not the clothes you usually wear though if you're going to be playing with Artois." Picking Scorpius up again, he headed for the stairs and took Scorpius back to his room where Brix was waiting with his outfit for the day. "Brix, we're going to need something more appropriate for a crup-slobber bath. Artois is a drool machine."

Brix altered Scorpius's outfit for the day to muggle jeans and a Puddlemere United shirt Marcus Flint had sent for his third birthday, before collecting the muggle trainers he'd been sent home from Hermione's in and adding the boy's traveling robes to at least give the impression of finery. After making sure he was clean, Brix used her magic to get the young master into his clothes and set him to work tidying up his toys before Aunt Daphne arrived. Draco used the spare time to go to his rooms and change into a pair of smart black jeans, a white button down and his own pair of muggle trainers, also black that he'd acquired from his mother recently after one of her shopping excursions with Hermione. He brushed his fingers through his hair to make sure it wasn't too messy before rolling his sleeves up to just below his elbows, putting on his seventeenth-birthday-present watch and slipping his Malfoy signet ring onto his right index finger. He pocketed his vault keys and tucked his wand into his other pocket before heading back to Scorp and taking him downstairs to wait for Daphne.

"Draco?" Daphne called out from the family lounge.

"Hey, Daph." Draco grinned, kissing her cheek in greeting, "Having a good morning?"

Daphne smiled and nodded, "Hey Scorp. Yes! A great morning actually. I have news. Theo wanted to tell you but since he's working on a new contract for Blaise's club and I was coming to get Scorp, he said I could be the one to let you know."

Draco looked at her intently for a moment and tilted his head, "Good news?"

"Very." Daphne smiled brightly, "Theo and I are having a baby!"

Draco's eyebrows shot up at this. Theo hadn't even mentioned they were trying. "You are?"

Daphne nodded, "We didn't want to tell anyone too soon, but St. Mungos have been working on new spells and their research has made quite a few breakthroughs recently so the chances of carrying to term have increased to ninety-five percent. The mortality rate has dropped a bit recently too and there hasn't been a squib birth in over five years, so we decided it was ok to tell family for now. My parents were the first people we told, obviously and now you know too. We'd like for you to keep it a bit of a secret until I'm further along. We only found out a few days ago and I'm barely nine weeks. Thank Merlin the last girl's night didn't affect anything, I'd have felt so guilty."

Draco smiled as he listened to Daphne ramble on before he cut her off with a hug, "Congratulations, Daph. I'm so happy for you both. I know you were worried after what happened with Stori but this is great news and you'll be absolutely fine."

Daphne nodded with a sad smile, "I don't think Stori would want me to be scared, so I'm trying to turn my anxieties towards excitement instead. If it's a girl, we'd like to name her Tori, for Astoria….if you're okay with that?"

Draco smiled, "I would never begrudge you the decision to honor your sister like that and I know she'd be ecstatic. Scorp will be excited to have a cousin close to his age too."

Daphne's smile brightened considerably at that and Draco was concerned it had given him permanent eye damage. He pulled her into another hug, letting her release a few tears that he knew she needed to let go of, and only let her go when she pulled back.

"Okay, I should be back before dinner but I'm sure you'll have fun whilst I'm running my errands. Scorp is excited for the many forms of sugar you apparently give him every time you watch him." Draco glared mockingly at her.

Daphne laughed and shrugged, "Who can ever say no to that sweet little boy? Besides, aunties are supposed to spoil their nephews. It's what we're for."

Draco chuckled but nodded, wishing his own aunties had been able or willing to do that for him, "Too right. Well, have fun and don't put too much stress on yourself. I'll pick him up from yours if that works for you? I can congratulate Theo on the impending new addition to the House of Nott that way."

Daphne agreed to the arrangements, so Draco ducked down to hug and kiss Scorpius, wish him a fun day and tell him to be good for Aunt Daphne, then left them to the floo and headed out the front door to the apparition point just beyond the front gates.

He apparated directly to the Gringotts apparition point which was a room to the left of the main entrance from Diagon Alley, effectively bypassing the guards who were stationed out front. Making his way towards the closest available goblin, he asked for access to his vault and handed the goblin his key. The goblin, he recognised as Ronnar, nodded his agreement and instead of going towards the rail and cart system, called for one of the human employees. Draco's eyes widened comically in surprise when he was greeted by Bill Weasley.

"Mornin', Draco." Bill greeted, grinning wolfishly.

"Good Morning, Bill." Draco nodded. He hadn't had many conversations with the oldest Weasley son but Bill had introduced himself to Draco when Scorpius's private vault had been set up and extended the offer of using his first name. Draco had reciprocated and been offered the other wizard's curse breaking expertise if it was ever required. They tended to run into each other whenever Draco had occasion to visit Gringotts.

"I'll take you down to your vault. The goblins have me playing conductor until they can find an assignment for me within the country. With my eldest being in her first year of Hogwarts, and younger ones not actually in school yet, we're trying to limit the amount of foreign assignments we take." Bill said conversationally as he walked towards the cart that was waiting for them.

Draco nodded, listening as Bill explained that Fleur was currently in France working on a short assignment and should be back in a week or two which meant he could then accept a short-term assignment, to fill the foreign assignment obligations for the financial quarter. The cart quickly reached the Thief's Downfall and after passing through it, Bill waved his wand to dry them off as the cart grew closer to the lowest floor of vaults. The whole journey took about ten minutes but they soon came to a stop outside the main Malfoy family vault, where they kept most of the family jewelry and a large collection of more expensive and priceless items.

Bill and Draco disembarked from the cart and Bill drew a complicated pattern over the vault door with his wand before having Draco press his hand to the door. The thick oak panel with silver inlay shuddered with recognition of attempted access before pricking his finger and drawing several drops of his blood. Slowly the door unlocked and opened for Draco and Bill to enter.

"So, you're obviously not here for pocket money." Bill commented, looking around at the many piles of chests and drawers full of priceless books, jewelry and artifacts, "What are you looking for?"

Draco looked at the red-head, contemplatively, "I'll let you know when I find it."

Bill didn't question him further and soon decided to step back out of the vault to let Draco look around in peace. After thirty minutes of looking though he was getting a little bored. Draco had narrowed his search down to a few options but seemed indecisive about what he was going to choose. Bill poked his head into the vault, "Hey, I'll be back in a few minutes, unless you're ready to go?"

"Go on ahead, I'll be a little longer." Draco said distractedly, not looking up from the chest he was hovering over and sifting through. Bill left and Draco stopped looking through the chest, turning back to the few options he had already thought would suit Hermione.

One was a simple white gold band with a large solitaire diamond, but the longer he looked at it the more he realized he just couldn't imagine Hermione being comfortable wearing it. The second option he had set aside was more ornate - it had a black diamond surrounded by smaller white diamonds set in a platinum band that supported the gems with three stems on either side. It was quite pretty, but he still wasn't sure it was quite right for Hermione.

The one he liked the most though, reminded him of her wand (he recalled thinking her wand was quite lovely, just before she'd punched him in third year), the ring itself was traditional yellow gold, the band had been shaped to look like vines wrapping around the wearer's finger, and the leaves encircled a stunning hexagon-shaped moss agate. It had a matching set of wedding bands that looked like vines as well, and he thought Hermione would love it. He made a mental note to get the backstory on the rings from his parents at some point. He picked up the ring box that held the three rings and stood up.

As Draco stepped back out of the vault, Bill returned, "Ah, did you find what you were looking for?"

"I think so. Would you mind checking them for any curses?" Draco asked, holding the jewelry box out to Bill.

"Of course." Bill smiled, taking the box and opening it. He paused and looked at the rings before looking back at Draco, "A bit early, isn't it?"

Draco shrugged, "I'm sure you heard about our fight. I realized last week, with Hermione avoiding me, that I can't go back to the way I was living my life without her in it, I don't want to. I was scared at the time that things were moving too fast; my son was becoming too attached; I was becoming too attached. There were other things too, things to do with our history that I won't get into but I'm aware that I really upset her. I lashed out at her because of my fears and I shouldn't have. I'm hoping that she might find it in her heart to give me the millionth chance I don't deserve and consent to make our relationship official."

Bill nodded slowly, turning back to the rings and scanning them with his wand, "Well, I wish you luck then. The two of you seem well suited. The rings are clear; no curses, jinxes or anything untoward; incidentally though, there is a felicity charm on them. It's benign enough; it just keeps tempers from overpowering the love between the couple. For what it's worth, I think Hermione will love the rings you chose." Bill closed the box and handed it back to Draco, who slipped it into his pocket before they climbed back into the cart and made the journey back to the lobby. Bill waved Draco off and went back to his day.

Leaving Gringotts, Draco made his way to Blaise's club, guessing it may be where Theo was spending the morning, since Daphne had mentioned he was working on a few legal things for him. He walked into the club and looked around for a moment until he found Blaise and Theo at a table on the far side of the room. Making his way over to some of his oldest friends and greeted them before taking an empty seat at the table. He sat quietly, and waited while they finished up their work, constantly running his thumb over the velvet box in his pocket. Twenty minute later, they finished up and turned toward him.

"What's up, Draco?" Theo asked, looking at his childhood friend, noticing the excited look sparkling in Draco's eyes.

"Theo, is there any way you could add an amendment to the contract?" Draco asked seriously.

Theo shrugged, "It depends on what you want to add. Hermione might have to sign off on it."

Draco frowned, "If I asked you to add an amendment saying that I could propose to her before the initial three month courting period ends if I decide I want to, would she have to sign off on it?"

Theo looked at him in surprise, glancing at Blaise who also seemed a bit shocked, before replying, "No, I can add that in. I have a gemino-copy that I can add to and it updates the one at the Ministry. Are you considering proposing sooner?"

Draco smiled and leaned back in his chair, "I don't think I even needed the courting period; it was for her, really. If it wasn't for my betrothal contract to Stori, I'd have dropped to my knees in front of Hermione the second the war ended. She's it for me, guys. I mean, I'd never give up what I had with Astoria now; she was a good woman, a real friend and she gave me Scorpius but what I feel for Hermione; I can't even describe it. Scorp already considers her his mother even. He started calling her 'mummy' so fast it gave me whiplash. He felt it before I did in that soulmate kind of way. Hermione is meant to be a Malfoy."

Blaise and Theo look at each other before grinning at Draco. "Well, congratulations then. Have you picked a ring yet?" Blaise asked, knowing Draco wasn't one to do things by half.

Nodding, Draco pulled the jewelry box out of his pocket and slid it across the table to them.

"Very Hermione." Theo commented whilst Blaise nodded in agreement, passing the box back to Draco.

"Let's grab lunch and celebrate." Theo said, jumping up with the enthusiasm of a child, shrinking his briefcase and stuffing it into his pocket. Blaise and Draco stood and followed him out, down the street to Blaise's restaurant. They enjoyed a blissfully calm lunch at Blaise's private table where the entrepreneur proceeded to tell them that Pansy and 'the girls' had eaten there before going to the club the previous Saturday; that Hermione had made standing reservations to come in and pick up tiramisu any time she wanted, having mentioned to him that it's her favorite dessert. Draco grinned as it was his favorite as well.

They spent another hour catching up on each other's lives since they'd last spent time socially and Draco explained what had happened between him and Hermione. Blaise and Theo winced but nodded at his explanation, knowing how he could be sometimes. They said their goodbyes shortly before 2 o'clock; Blaise letting them use the private floo in his office.

Draco hated using the floo but realistically, it was the only way he would be able to access Potter's home. Floo'ing in, he brushed the ash and soot from his clothing and looked around.

"Potter? Potterette? Anyone home?" Draco called out not seeing or hearing anyone around.

A pop sounded behind him and he turned to find an ugly, gnarled house elf.

"Master Malfoy! Kreacher lives to serve, sir. How can Kreacher be helping you?" the elf, Draco now knew to be Kreaecher, asked.

"Could you escort me to the Lady of the house please?" Draco asked, slightly uncomfortable with how the elf was staring at him - adoringly.

"Of course, sir. Right this way, sir; please, follow Kreacher, sir." Kreacher led him up a few flights of stairs before opening a door that Draco soon realized led into the library.

"Master Malfoy, Mistress." Kreacher sneered at Ginny.

"Thank you, Kreacher." Ginny said as she stood from her desk, "Hey, Draco. Ready to meet your future brother-in-law?"

"You still think she'll marry me then?" He asked, hopefully.

"Oh please… you two belong together. It was practically a done deal as soon as she brought you that contract. Hermione thinks everything through, everything. And even if she decided to act on her Gryffindor impulses and not think everything through for once, you were still the first and only person she thought of to tie her entire life to without a second thought. That means something, Draco. That she's trusting you to catch her when she falls. She knows who you are, she knows who you were but most importantly, Draco, she sees who you can become. I think she's more disappointed than anything else now that it's been a few days that you just don't seem to see it yourself… that you…"

Draco nodded slowly, "I get it, I think. I didn't really mean for any of this avoiding and hurt feelings to happen. It's just that I know how to push her buttons so I did. The whole relationship wasn't supposed to detonate."

"Well, that's the thing you need to learn about Gryffindors… we explode. Imagine growing up in my house… three explosions before breakfast were common, usually thanks to the twins.The love is still there though; that never goes away. It's how loving families work; especially Gryffindor families."

Draco nodded again and looked down at himself. "I suppose we should get going. Am I dressed appropriately?"

Ginny grinned, "Yep! Very muggle. Good choice."

Going back down the stairs, Ginny led him through the front door and out onto the street. As they walked, Ginny explained they were heading toward the nearest station of the muggle underground train network that Ginny told him was colloquially known as 'the tube' according to Harry and from the other end of the train journey, there would be a little more walking.

When they got to the tube, Ginny scanned a card she took out of her pocket twice and pulled him through the turnstile. They stepped onto the underground train and Draco marveled at how the doors seemed to slide open rather than swing. Ginny laughingly said, "Mind the gap!", when he was about to stumble and directed him to hold onto a strap above their heads. They waited for a few moments before the train started moving…fast, almost too fast for Draco. He commented that they'd have gotten to Hogwarts in a couple of hours if the wizarding world had a train this fast. Ginny rather thought he might be sick with the color of his face and the fact that he was almost gagging as he spoke. After half an hour though, they reached what Ginny called 'Stop M' even though the sign posts clearly said 'Bond Street', and half dragged him off the tube and back into the open air, onto Oxford Street. Draco felt more confused than ever by muggles and how they named things.

"Here we are, Harley Street." Ginny grinned as they turned onto a long street, filled with impressive buildings and signage boasting many different medical practices. Draco looked around; it wasn't too crowded but was busier than Hogsmeade on a Hogwarts weekend. Ginny let him look around for a few minutes before she started walking down the street towards what he guessed would be Hermione's family's tooth healer office. He was right but that fact didn't feel as good as it usually would as it was accompanied by increasing nervousness that spiked when Ginny opened the door and they walked into the office.

"Good afternoon, do you have an appointment?" An Indian woman asked from behind the front desk.

"Padma?" Ginny said, sounding astonished, "What are you doing here?"

"Ginny! I work here, I started a few weeks ago. It's just part time on the weekends when I'm not at St. Mungos." Padma smiled at her twin's sister-in-law.

"Hermione didn't tell me that!" Ginny said.

Padma looked confused, "Why would Hermione care about me working here?"

It was Ginny's turn to look confused, "Didn't she hire you? This is her family's practice."

Padma's eyes widened, "Um, no. Dr. Granger hired me…I didn't know this was her family's office. Obviously, I knew they shared a last name but I didn't make the connection because well, I suppose you just don't. Um, sorry, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, okay. Well, Draco here needs to meet with Dr. Granger." Ginny grinned.

Padma nodded, "Okay, I can see if he's available for a consultation. What's wrong with him?"

"Oh, nothing's wrong. Draco just needs to meet his girlfriend's brother." Ginny smirked.

"Draco Malfoy is dating a muggle?" Padma asked, her eyebrows raised.

Ginny gave her an odd look, "No, Draco is dating Hermione."

Padma's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head, "Hermione Granger?"

Ginny nodded, "Yes, Hermione Granger. Didn't Louis mention her at all?"

Padma shook her head, "Uh, no. He said he had a sister but… Let me just go get him for you. I'll be right back."

Ginny and Draco nodded and leaned against the front desk while she disappeared through a door behind it. It seemed odd to see a witch working in a muggle establishment but Padma was intelligent and both the red-head and the blond assumed there was a good reason why she was working there.

Padma Patil was in shock. How could Louis, her boyfriend of two months not have mentioned that his sister was 'the Hermione Granger'? That meant he had to know about magic. She still hadn't told him she was a witch. Thinking back to all the times he'd mentioned his sister, she realized he'd only ever referred to her as 'my sister' or 'H', occasionally he referred to her as some fictional character called 'Matilda'. She wracked her brain for any indications that she could have figured out that he had been referring to Hermione Granger; muggleborn extraordinaire. Obviously, the last name was something of a giveaway now but at the time she hadn't connected the dots because he was a muggle and with Hermione being such a powerful witch, it was easy to forget she came from a non-magical background. Plus, it seemed like a pretty common name in the muggle world.

He called her H a lot and had explained she was a swot from birth, always demanding he or their parents read to her all the time until she learned to read for herself when she was just four. He'd even mentioned that his sister excelled in all of her schooling and that she'd been through a lot as a teenager. They'd talked about him having gone to America for dental school and that he was only able to keep in touch with his sister via letters. Even when Padma had told him she went to private school in Scotland, he'd only said that his sister went to private school too. "'H' helps run the office but her career makes it difficult for her to be here much. She tends to pop in every few months to review the books and write up new non-disclosure agreements for high-profile clients," he'd said when she asked about H's career, then went on to tell her that 'H' worked in Education with the government. He'd told her it was no surprise that his sister had gone into Education as she was always academically minded.

The most glaringly obvious thing he'd shared about his sister was her birthday; he'd said he was going out with his sister for her birthday on September 19th and to cancel all of his appointments for that day. She'd been given all the signs, she just hadn't connected the dots. "Some Ravenclaw I am," she said to herself as she headed for Louis's office.

Shaking her head, she sighed and knocked on his door. Once he called her in with his usual 'Come on in, love,', she opened the door and smiled at her boyfriend. She could see the similarities between him and Hermione now; chestnut curls (though his were less wild) and the sparkly amber eyes were the most prominent but there was something in their expressions too…thoughtful, considering, warm.

"You've got visitors, can I show them in?" Padma asked.

Louis Granger looked up from his paperwork, with a grin, "Sure, gives me a distraction from all this work." He set his paperwork aside as Padma left the room and came back a few moments later with Ginny Potter and a tall blond bloke he'd never met before.

"Ginny! How have you been?" Louis asked as she came into the room, and walked over to hug his sister's long time friend.

"Can't complain, Lou. Kids are getting older and more mouthy but that's to be expected. You?" Ginny asked with a smile, returning his hug.

"Oh I'm great. Business is booming and Padma is a god-send. Come in, come in. Padma, would you mind getting some tea for everyone?" Louis asked his girlfriend, wondering why she looked so uncomfortable, surely she couldn't know that Ginny was a witch.

Padma smiled graciously and left the room to make the tea.

Louis waved towards the sitting area of his office and let Ginny and the blond guy take a seat before he sat across from them.

"What's up, Ginny? Is Hermione okay?" Louis asked the red-head with a worried look.

"Oh, she's fine, Lou. Don't look so worried. It's not always bad news when I show up, you know." Ginny smiled.

Louis looked unconvinced, "You're sure? She mentioned a few nights ago that she got in a fight with her boyfriend. She told me it would be fine but I could tell she'd been crying. She said something about a misunderstanding, but it was obvious she was more upset than she was letting on."

Ginny nodded, "They did get into a fight but he's trying to make it up to her. Which is why we're here today. Louis, meet Draco Malfoy, Hermione's boyfriend. Draco, Louis Granger."

The blond sat up a bit straighter and Louis looked at him sharply, before nodding and holding his hand out to the blond, "I've heard a lot about you, Draco."

Draco took his hand and shook it, unflinchingly, "It's nice to meet you, Louis. Hermione told me about you as well."

Padma returned with the tea at that moment as the men's hands broke apart and sat down beside Louis, asking how Ginny and Draco took their drinks before pouring from the pot.

"So, what can I do for you, Draco?" Louis asked as he sipped his tea.

Padma watched the interactions between everyone as she settled into her seat.

"Well, I was hoping to get your permission," Draco cleared his throat, "Sorry, I mean, I know Hermione would kill me for this, but this is how I was raised….I would like your blessing to marry your sister."

Louis almost choked on his tea, looking at Ginny, who's eyes were as round as saucers, and then setting his tea down, he looked at Draco.

"You're right, Hermione would murder anyone who thought they needed my permission to ask her to marry them. I also know Hermione's been half in love with you since school and that she'd probably murder me for telling you so but that's what big brothers are for, to embarrass their little sisters. Even little sisters with a… erm… rather magical way of expressing their anger." He swallowed, realizing he'd almost mentioned wands and magic in front of Padma. "And I know all about what happened during your last few years at school." Louis stopped when Padma suddenly gasped. He looked at her worriedly, "Are you alright, dove?"

Padma cleared her throat, "Yes, love, it's just that you should probably know… erm, I was a student at Hogwarts too. I went to school with Draco and Ginny… and Hermione." Her face had gone pale, worried about his reaction to this revelation.

Louis blinked before humming, "I should've known. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are one magical woman!"

Padma blushed and looked at him as he went quiet; thoughtful. Draco and Ginny watched the couple, Draco slightly unsure if Louis was going to give him his blessing and Ginny coming to the conclusion that Louis and Padma were together.

Louis seemed to come back to himself and said, "Well, you have my blessing, Draco but if you ever hurt my sister, just know that I may just be what you call a tooth healer, but I studied the body extensively at medical school and can effectively get rid of you without being caught, no magic required." Louis grinned and Padma rolled her eyes at his threat.

Ginny snorted before looking at Louis and Padma, "Do your sisters know that you two are dating? They were housemates and roommates at school you know?"

Padma shrugged, "'Vati knows I've been 'seeing someone but I didn't tell her who. I didn't know he was Hermione bloody Granger's brother."

Louis nodded, "Same for me. Hermione knows I've been seeing someone and that I hired her part-time to help with reception, but I didn't tell her who and I definitely didn't know Padma is a witch too. If I'd known I would've told H. She's always saying she wishes the two worlds in which she lives could be more… what's the word she uses… blended, I think."

Ginny nods, "Well, I'm sure it will be a happy surprise when you do tell them. Also Padma, that book you had Louis give Hermione for her birthday… she let me borrow it and I have got to say, 'phew'. I think it might have given Harry a few ideas."

"I don't want to know." Draco and Louis interjected at the same time.

Padma laughed and nodded, "I thought so too. All he'd told me was that she loved reading; I read it when it came out and thought it might be a fun change of pace for an academic."

The girls both giggled about that, neither man ventured further into the conversation as it had clearly descended to the realms of 'girl talk'. Louis asked Draco if he knew anything about muggle sport, which Draco could only shake his head at so Louis took him into the office break room and switched what he called the 'telly' on and showed Draco the sport of football, which he said some people refer to as 'footie'.

After a while, Draco who was absorbed in the football game they were watching, realized he forgot to ask Louis about the rings.

"Louis," he said as he pulled the box out of his pocket again, "Do you think Hermione will like these rings? I found them in my family vault and thought they looked like her wand."

Louis turned the volume on the telly down and turned to look at the rings in the box Draco was holding out to him.

"They do look like her wand. I remember when she first got it, she had me paint grape vines all around her bedroom wall like a border. I was a bit of an artist when I first left secondary school before I got talked into training for the family business.The rings are beautiful, I think she'll really love them. They're definitely her style. I'm glad you know her well enough to have picked these out. The engagement ring actually looks a bit like the one my dad bought for Hermione's mum. Except hers had a huge moissanite. What kind of stone is this?" Louis asked, staring at the ring and bringing it a bit closer to his face.

"It's a moss agate." Draco announced, grinning; he didn't know that Hermione's mum had a ring similar to this one, he'd just felt drawn to the rings as soon as he'd pulled them out of the chest.

"Very nice. I think Hermione will love it. Although, she'll probably love you and your son more than the ring." Louis grinned.

Draco smiled, "Thank you. I wasn't aware she told you about my son."

Louis nodded, "Oh, she told me all about you and 'her little Scorpion'."

"Is that what she calls him? He told me that she got a scorpion tattoo with his name on her arm. He loves her." Draco said, reflecting on the conversation he and Scorpius had had the other day.

Louis watched him for a moment before nodding, "That's what she calls him when she's talking to me but I'm not sure if she uses it with anyone else. But yeah, I went with her to get the tattoo. She said he's nothing like a scorpion, he's too sweet but she'll expect a sting in the tail once he's a teenager."

Draco snorted at the thought of that but remained silent, sensing Louis wasn't finished.

"I'm glad she has you and your son to love her. She deserves nothing but the best, and I have a feeling that you'll give that to her. Plus your parents send me Christmas gifts and I don't want those to go away if I have to kill you for hurting her."

Draco couldn't remember a time when a muggle had made him laugh so much by threatening him. He even knew the threat was serious and still couldn't help but laugh. He hadn't realized his parents knew Louis as well but supposed with how close his mother was with Hermione, it sort of made sense. Even Pansy had mentioned recently going shopping with Narcissa and Hermione in Muggle London; spending a small fortune in 'Harrods'. How had he kept his head in the sand so long about her?

"I know you're looking out for your sister, Louis. I've received similar threats from a number of other people, namely Harry Potter and every Weasley I've ever met. I get it, I really do. She's a special person and whilst I respect her fierce independence and need to protect herself, I want to look after her too. She's changed my life; several times over in the past but this time, with the inclusion of my son, it feels more… important now. She's significant to me and my family. Irreplaceable."

Louis rubbed a hand down his face with a sigh. He'd been hearing about Draco Malfoy for nigh on two decades and his sister had had complicated feelings about the guy for a long time. Louis recognized the sincerity in the other man's voice though; the shift in feelings and perception. It wasn't the desperation in the blond's voice that swayed him, that could be faked; nor was it the compliments of H that spewed like Vesuvius; he was well informed that 'Slytherins' could lie as easily as breathing. It was actually something in Draco's eyes that gave him away, a flicker of absolute devotion whenever Hermione was being spoken about.

Being a dentist, Louis had had ample experience of being up close to people's faces and he had learned how to determine the emotions that flash across their features - flashes of fear, anxiety, nervousness. He could tell when a patient found him attractive or the flicker of devotion when they were scared and held a loved one's hand. He hadn't seen any real fear or anxiety when he'd threatened the lad, just acceptance and an understanding that if he truly hurt Hermione, he'd deserve everything he got. With this in mind, he decided to give the guy a break.

"So, what are your plans for this big proposal to sweep my sister off her broom?" He asked with a chuckle. It was a well-known fact, even to him, that his sister liked to keep both feet on the ground. He'd started teasing her about brooms as soon as he knew she was a witch.

"Well, there are plans forming in my head that I'm going to need help with. A bit of a production of sorts. She mentioned she loves musicals to me when we first started getting to know each other, and romantic comedy films too. I also remember her mentioning in a conversation years ago about the way in which Gryffindors tend to attack anything difficult in their lives; the phrase 'go big or go home' was mentioned several times and I felt it might be the best way to go about this. She's more studious than most Gryffindors but I still think that side of her would appreciate a big, romantic gesture."

Louis nodded at Draco's explanation, knowing his sister would absolutely appreciate Draco leaving his comfort zone to do something huge for her. She wasn't materialistic but she was a romantic. "This plan you're forming then… is it to take place in public? Give the papers something positive to report on her that can't be disputed with so many witnesses."

"That's the idea, yes. My son raved about a movie she'd let him watch called Aladdin in which the lead character made a wish to be a prince before presenting himself to the princess with what I gather was quite the spectacle of riches. I know Hermione doesn't care about my wealth but it does mean I can afford to make my case extravagantly. My father has connections that can get me a marching band; there's a magical acrobatics club for young witches… I'm still deciding on most of the display though."

"You're right, you can afford to show off but in that movie you mentioned, the princess wasn't impressed. I don't think Hermione would be either. I'm not trying to tarnish the vision you have for your proposal and I think the big romantic gesture is a good idea but it can be scaled down a little. What's your singing voice like?"

Draco felt very wrong-footed by Louis's last comments. Of course Hermione wouldn't be impressed by showing off; what was he thinking? That rather put him back at square one though. Wait, what did he ask? Singing? "Erm, I can hold a tune. Why?"

"Because, Hermione is a sucker for a leading man who can sing and she specifically enjoys the songs of a Canadian singer called Michael Bublé. There's one song in particular I'm thinking of. It's called 'Everything'. From the way you speak of her, I think the lyrics would fit well and really speak to her. I have the CD you can borrow to familiarize yourself with the lyrics. Harry has a way to listen to it at his place. Once you have it memorized, come back to me and I'll accompany you with my guitar. It'll help convince her how hard you've tried if I'm there too. Plus, I've been dying to see Diagon Alley for years."

Draco took the CD from his future brother-in-law, hopefully. It felt good to have support from Hermione's family. Whilst the Weasleys were all well and good, having her kin on his side diminished the dread he felt significantly.

"So, not a parade down Diagon Alley? Maybe a stage though? What other music does she like? Do you have more CDs?"

"Oh, she loves musicals. She was in a play at Primary School of Oliver Twist. She played Nancy. I think her favorite is My Fair Lady, although it could've changed. I know she went to see Mamma Mia about ten times at the pictures."

"You'll have to back up a bit with that. I'm still learning muggle references. What's 'mamma mia'?"

Louis chuckled. "It's a movie, where the actors sing most of their dialogue instead of just speaking their parts. It was when I'd just moved back to the UK, about 2008. All the music is by a Swedish band from the 70s called ABBA. H was having a hard time as it had been ten years since that war of yours ended and she was crying a lot over a few people that had been gone for so long… Remus, I think she said specifically, and one of the Weasley lads… erm… Fred, was it?"

"Yeah. There were some heavy losses. People she really loved and respected. Sometimes, when I think about it, I don't understand how she's ever given me this chance."

"Then, don't think about it. Live in the now, not in the past. My parents have been gone a long time and I could hold grudges about that. I could get angry and blame Hermione or the people who forced her to send them away but it's not worth it and I'd be doing myself a disservice by holding onto that pain. You need to do the same thing. I think you probably have to some extent but from what Hermione has told me, you hold onto a lot of guilt still. You're still young, especially by wizarding standards. Don't let that Riddle guy tarnish the rest of your life. Take what Hermione is offering you - a fresh start - and live for it, live for your son and every day you get to see him grow and learn and laugh."

"You're a good man, Louis." Draco commented back, nodding. "Thank you for your blessing and your acceptance of me. I know it can't be easy giving Hermione the freedom to accept me after what you've all been through and lost but I appreciate it immensely."

"Go see Harry and learn that song. Get in touch when you want to practice with me and I'll make time. Now I know you know Padma too, it'll be easier to see Hermione more so we'll have to be sneaky in keeping it a surprise."

"Hey, I'm a Slytherin. Sneaky is practically my middle name." Draco exclaimed, proudly. He had a point.

They both chuckled as they stood and headed back to Louis's office, returning to the witches to say their goodbyes.

Chapter 7.5 - Revelations, Ravenclaws Reading

Hermione sat in her office, re-reading the notes from the board meeting she'd just attended and filling in the new appointments in her datebook. She'd been tasked with presenting the Petting Zoo for the Malfoy School to the Wizengamot as it seemed to be a 'passion project' for her. That's what the meeting's speaker had called it. She added the date of the presentation - November 7th - to the right page of the datebook and went back to her notes.

That had been at the beginning of the meeting. The following hour had involved curriculum changes at both Hogwarts and the Malfoy School which didn't really need her to do anything except play editor before passing the changes to her boss for review.

The penultimate item on the agenda though, which had been brought up by the Head of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, was applications for positions within the school for next year - Professors Babbling and Vector were retiring - and a position that was due to open up on the Board itself. Hermione was tasked with reviewing the applications and whittling down the options for perusal by the board. She scheduled Friday night and Saturday morning to go through that. She had drinks planned with her brother and his new girlfriend Saturday night. She was finally going to meet the woman whom Louis had described as 'even more magical than you'; she'd rolled her eyes at that but he was quite clearly in love.

As she absently wondered what she would think of Louis's girlfriend, she blocked off Sunday to Tuesday in her datebook in a 'temporary' ink, with what had been the last item on the meeting agenda - 'sex education' at Hogwarts. Generally, it was a subject that got farmed out to some professional from St. Mungo's but because of a recent outbreak of spattergroit, there was no one available. Therefore, the task had fallen to Hermione…

"Since you're a certified healer, Hermione and probably the most sensible choice to shepherd hormonal teenagers through this time of discovery… would you mind…?" Artemis Ledger had asked, pleadingly.

Hermione considered the suggestion before accepting. It would be lovely to catch up with Minerva and the rest of the staff. She had no problem guiding teens in how to make good choices and stay healthy but she knew that the classes for years 4, 5, 6 and 7 would have to take place over two days, at least. This was the first year it was being introduced as an actual one-off class rather than a short lecture via someone from St Mungo's, having been decided at an earlier meeting to come up with a curriculum of age-appropriate material. After this initial programme to cover all of the upper years, it would be taught in 4th year and refreshed in 6th year.

"I'd be happy to but my schedule is quite tight at the moment," Hermione responded, thinking of the wedding she had to plan on top of everything she did for work, time with friends, family, Scorpius; oh, and the active avoidance of her future spouse. "Has a schedule already been arranged with Minerva or do you need me to coordinate with her?"

"Nothing has been planned specifically but the sooner the better. As much as I wish for the magical population to grow faster, I do not wish it to be because of youthful 'accidents'. Arrange between yourself and Minerva when the best time will be. Two days should cover all four of the upper years. Submit the time away from the office as 'assignment/field-work' and you'll still be able to claim expenses. Not that there should be any at Hogwarts." Artemis added.

Closing her datebook, Hermione gathered her new paperwork together and placed everything in her briefcase before penning a note to Minerva, enquiring about the preliminary dates she had free. Monday was always a filing reviewing day so that was easily stalled until later in the week or passed on to an intern. Tuesday was going to be more tricky to reassign, it was the beginning of the visits to muggleborn homes about the next Hogwarts year.

Some of the children already attended Malfoy's School but Hogwarts was still a whole new ball of wax. Draco swallowed the costs of attending his school, providing textbooks and equipment but that burden fell back to the parents of the students once they attended Hogwarts. Hermione had spearheaded the campaign to give muggle families as much notice as possible to be able to afford everything that was necessary within months of joining the department. So, it was now done almost a year in advance. There were eleven muggleborns due to start Hogwarts next September and Hermione was the liaison with each and every one.

As she made her way out of her office for lunch, Hermione stopped by a colleague's desk and asked if the younger witch would mind doing the first three muggleborn appointments on Tuesday afternoon. Tammy Prather was a muggleborn herself so that would help relax the parents and she would have a more thorough understanding of the lives of the people she was talking to.

"Really?" The young woman asked, "I'd love to. I don't get back to the muggle world nearly enough. I might see if I can meet up with my old primary school friends for a drink after I've finished with the families."

"Sounds like a great plan. I'll be in the cafeteria for the next half hour if anyone needs me. I think it's Harry's paperwork day so he'll be there for lunch. The schedules for Tuesday are on my noticeboard; you remember the password for my office?"

Tammy nodded as Hermione exited the department for lunch.

The next few days passed in a blur. She'd received confirmation from Minerva that the preliminary time for the sexual education classes worked with the student's schedules when she'd returned from lunch. She had also been invited to join the staff table for dinner Sunday night and stay at the castle for the duration.

Friday, she had been tasked with mothering duties half way through the day and had spent the afternoon making Scorpius laugh with sweets that made them expel animal noises. She'd also had a bit of a heart-to-heart with him about the little upset between her and Draco. There had been tears. It's why she'd given him her grandfather's Victoria Cross. Scorpius was family now and he had been through so much upheaval in his young life… losing his mother, living at a school he wasn't technically attending yet, accepting Hermione into his life… he was a brave little boy.

Then, Saturday happened.

The morning had been calm enough; she'd received a phone call from her brother to confirm drinks that night to meet his girlfriend, then she'd gone to have breakfast with Ginny and the kids as Harry was working well past the end of his overnight shift - something about a stakeout in Hampshire. Late morning had involved pushing Jamie and Al on the swings to cries of "higher, higher" and "faster, faster!"

She'd decided to have a wander around Diagon Alley at lunchtime and get food at The Leaky Cauldron. It wasn't too long until Lucius and Narcissa's 40th Wedding Anniversary - just a couple of months - and she still had to find the perfect gift. As a future daughter-in-law, she wanted it to be special, memorable, so she was starting the search early. Despite currently being in Draco's bad books, her friendship with the other Malfoys was important to her; plus Hermione always liked to be prepared. After lunch, she made her way to Tafella's Trinkets in search of the perfect gift; it was a high end store with many rare curiosities that might appeal to the Malfoys.

Just as she'd discarded a book on tantric sex for older couples, she heard a familiar voice calling her name….

"Hermione… is that you?" Andromeda Tonks hollered across the store with no evidence of her fancy upbringing in her voice. She couldn't be more different from Narcissa if she tried. It was hilarious really.

"Andi, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked as the older witch reached her and the two of them embraced. "It's been too long since I've seen you. Is Teddy enjoying Hogwarts?"

"One question at a time, Hermione, please. I'm an old crone now, I can't keep up." Andromeda commented as they broke their hug.

"That's rubbish. You're only as old as you feel and you still look fantastic. Even Narcissa says so and you know she has an eye for such things."

"I will pretend I believe you… and her," Andromeda answered with a chuckle. "I actually just popped in to look for a gift for Cissy's anniversary. I'm sure you remember, it's on New Year's Eve and with them away for the weekend I knew there was no chance of bumping into her here."

"That's a good plan. Very sneaky. I sometimes forget you were sorted into Slytherin." They both laughed. "It's quite the coincidence actually. I'm shopping for the same thing. They've become such dear friends and now that Draco and I are, well 'Draco and I', I want to make their gift this year something extra special. It's likely that after this year, we'll be getting them a gift from the three of us so this is the last one from just me and…"

"Hermione, you're rambling, dear. I understand. I thought you and Draco were in the middle of a bit of a fall out though. Have you made up already?"

"Not yet," she answered with a sad smile, "We're both being a bit stubborn, I'm afraid but we'll get there eventually. I knew what I was getting into when I signed the contract. I haven't given up on him. I just, I think we're very similar and he's adjusting a little better than me to coupledom. I'm not used to consulting someone else about my whereabouts all the time but he definitely over-reacted."

"Well, I'm sure it will all work out in the end. Ted and I fought sometimes but we always made up. Making up was fun." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Oh, we're waiting until after the wedding for that kind of fun. More's the bloody pity. If there was a chance of ending this little spat with that kind of fun, I'd have been back at the Manor weeks ago."

"Oh, I'm sure you would. Ted and I didn't wait but as you know, I took pride in flouting pureblood rules back then, much like my dearly departed cousin, Sirius."

Hermione nodded.

"Now, enough of all this melancholy. What have you found for my dear sister and her poncy husband for their anniversary?"

Hermione laughed and picked the book back up.

"I considered this for half a second as a gag gift but decided against it. Not sure they need to know I'm familiar with such things. It might be considered… inappropriate."

Andromeda stared at the book cover before laughter burst out of her, making her breathless. "You might be right, Hermione but it's the absolute perfect gift for me to get them. I can just imagine the look on Lucius's face. He acts so high and mighty but he's a depraved little scoundrel from what Cissa's told me and this might be just up their alley."

"Really? Hmmm…" Hermione commented, wondering if the apple fell far from the tree on the depravity scale. "Well, that's your shopping sorted. What about mine?"

"That really depends on what sort of present you want to get for them. There's decorative, romantic, personal…?"

"I think something personal. Draco told me that they tend to have a party for their anniversary; I thought of maybe singing for them but I'm not sure that would be enough. Lucius is so materialistic. Would they prefer something with a monetary value?"

"I believe they have everything of monetary value they could ever want, and more. They'd appreciate something more personal and specifically from you… as you're family now."

Hermione was thoughtful for a few minutes.

"Maybe you're right. Not sure what I'll sing though. I only know muggle songs. I'm not sure they'd be aware of any."

"Something to think on then. You have time. Before that though, there are more important things to consider, like tea."

"Tea?"

"Oh yes. I have some people coming over for afternoon tea. Why don't you join us? Molly will be there. Augusta Longbottom too."

Hermione checked her watch. It was only just 2 o'clock and she wasn't meeting her brother and the mystery girlfriend until 7. She had time. "I'd love to."

Hermione was unsure what tea with Andromeda, Molly and Augusta Longbottom would be like. The last time anyone had mentioned Augusta to her, it was in the capacity of her being almost vulture-like; disregarding the stuffed version attached to her hat. It was certainly unexpected, however, for Augusta to have brought Hannah Abbott along with her. Hermione didn't really think that she or Hannah fit the 'ladies who lunch' archetype, being a landlady but shrugged it off as Molly arrived with Ginny in tow who was also joined by Luna. Ginny couldn't be considered as a 'lady who lunched' even though she was a well known sports journalist with The Prophet who mingled with the wizarding world's version of celebrities - Quidditch players. Luna definitely didn't fit the description either - publisher and pureblood she might be but she was far removed from the stereotypical image of afternoon tea with petit four and doilies.

"Hermione! Oh, I'm so glad Andi brought you to our little get together." Molly smiled, pulling Hermione into a mama-bear hug. Ginny made an amused face over her shoulder as Hermione's bones were almost crushed. Hermione had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

"We ran into each other in Diagon, and she invited me," Hermione shrugged once Molly released her from the stranglehold. Ginny and Luna both gave her quick hugs too and they all greeted Hannah kindly before they were ushered into the lounge of the Tonks' home.

Taking seats around a table near the large bay window, Hermione looked around the room and smiled, remembering the times she had visited when Teddy was little. The decor hadn't changed much but the room looked less like a tornado had passed through it. It was a bittersweet thought and she smiled a little sadly as she remembered coming into the room with Andi to babysit when Teddy was just about to turn two. He had tumbled off the side of the sofa and almost cracked his head open - missing the coffee table by millimeters. She had luckily been fast enough to catch him before he hit the ground though and had cradled him to her chest while she caught her breath.

"Hermione, dear, are you alright?" Andi asked, watching Hermione's facial expressions shift.

"Oh," Hermione smiled, "Yes, I'm sorry. I was just remembering Teddy falling off the sofa back when he was one. I wish I had been there for Scorp when he was that little and tumbling all over the place. He's already such a refined little thing."

"Yes, well, I'm sure you can always unrefine him a little," Andi chuckled,

"And when you and Draco have more, you'll get to enjoy those moments then." Luna added, wistfully. The woman had strange insights that could just be trusted. Hermione believed there was true seer-blood in Luna that just didn't get developed because it didn't really need to but it was definitely there. A true seer, unlike Trelawney.

"I'm sure Draco would be willing to share some of those memories with you from Scorpius's infancy, if you asked. Narcissa has a beautiful Mother-of-Pearl pensieve; it's a Black family heirloom. Our parents gave us each our pick of an heirloom when we graduated Hogwarts, it's sort of a tradition in the family."

Hermione nodded, "Narcissa's mentioned that before, I believe she displays the pensieve in her observatory at the French estate. If you don't mind me asking, what was your heirloom?"

Andi laughed, " You're sitting in it, dear. When I made the decision that I wanted to marry my sweet Ted, I asked for this cottage before it was announced. Entails are set in stone, once the deed was transferred, even when I was blasted off the family tree, it was mine. Thinking I just wanted a little independence, they agreed."

"How very sneaky of you…" Hermione commented.

"I am a Slytherin, my dear." She responded. "Thankfully, being sneaky is probably the worst of my traits."

Andi's house elf popped in to serve 'the ladies' their tea before disappearing a few minutes later, presumably to make lunch.

"Hermione, I didn't know you were seeing Draco Malfoy," Hannah commented, smiling after she took a sip of tea. "Way to pull the PMEB."

"The what?" Hermione asked, looking confused.

"Oh," Hannah started, chuckling, "the 'Pureblood's Most Eligible Bachelor'. It's a moniker that's been publicized at least once a month in Witch Weekly since three months after his wife passed. Awfully insensitive to do so that soon, of course, but he's certainly a catch. Completely gorgeous, of course, and I know this doesn't matter to you specifically but the sheer amount of galleons he has is ridiculous. Then that sweet little boy… I know Draco didn't plan for it but Scorpius must be quite the babe-magnet for him."

"Scorpius, yes. He's so precious. I think I fell for that little sweetie-pie before my feelings for Draco developed as much as they have. Draco and I only started seeing each other in September. It's been a bit of a whirlwind romance but we're surprisingly well suited. You and Neville are engaged, right?" Hermione smiled at her.

"Yes, Neville proposed in May." Hannah confirmed, smiling and showing off the lovely yellow topaz ring surrounded by small diamonds on a thin silver band to Hermione, Luna and Ginny. The girls "ooh-ed" and "ahh-ed" at the stunning gem that twinkled back at them and seemed to fit the Hufflepuff girl perfectly.

"Congratulations." They all said in unison. Hannah politely thanked them before Augusta turned to Hermione.

"Miss Granger, I must say that I disagree completely with the Ministry heads who keep saying that you are unrelatable and unfit to become Head of the Department of Education. Neville told me all about you during your years at Hogwarts and if anyone is fit to be the next Head of that Department, it is surely you."

Hermione sheepishly smiled and felt her face grow a bit warm as she blushed, "Thank you, Madame Longbottom. I appreciate your endorsement. If only the rest of the Wizengamot agreed with you."

Andromeda and Molly nodded, along with the younger witches, Molly adding, "They say it's because she's not a mother and she isn't seen in the papers as much as she used to be. Personally, she has more of a vested interest in almost half of the next generation as most of the Ministry put together. She has at least fifteen nieces and nephews, including the four that are godchildren outside of family."

Andi shook her head, "It's all bureaucratic bollocks, if you ask me. Anyone who knows Hermione, knows she cares more for all the children in our world and the education system than any other member of that department The problem is that they're all prejudiced old bastards, stuck in the past when life was a patriarchy and women were only there to make babies, look pretty and keep house. Their heads are all stuck so far up each other's arses that they can't seem to see things have changed. Women can choose work or family nowadays, or even have it all and do both."

Hannah, Ginny and Hermione all looked at Andi and then each other, astonished at the language she used, but what shocked them even more was Augusta cackling so hard that she had to hold onto the table to keep from falling out of her chair. Molly was chuckling and wiping tears from the side of her eyes, nodding her agreement with Andromeda's words.

"Well said, Andromeda, my girl. Those old bastards wouldn't know what hard work was if it came up and cast a kissing curse on them. Bloody puritanical twats."

The younger generation looked on with wide eyes and dropped jaws, having never expected the gentile yet feisty matriarch of the House of Longbottom to use such language.

"Close your mouths, dears. You'll catch flies. Who do you think fought for the rights of witches so you have the choices you have today? We did, that's who. The old-timers just didn't get the memo, that's all. They'll be gone soon enough though."

Andromeda and Molly agreed, non-verbally, nodding along with matching proud smirks.

Eventually the older women composed themselves long enough to continue their tea and the conversation turned to their grandchildren and wedding plans for Hannah and Neville and hopeful overtures to know more about Hermione and Draco's relationship. Hermione gave very little away considering she wasn't sure herself where they stood at the moment.

Tea ended just after 5 o'clock with Hermione promising to join the ladies again at a later date for more tea and wizard-bashing. On her way out she pulled Luna aside and promised to have the latest installment of The Great Tale of Hogwarts - a child-friendly version of the events of their school years - to her by the end of the week; she wanted to run it by her proof-reader - Scorpius - first.

She headed home with just enough time to grab a shower and change before meeting her brother and his mystery new girlfriend for drinks at The King's Head. After getting dressed in a pair of skinny jeans, a black crop top and her black leather jacket, Hermione used her wand to dry and straighten her hair, before pulling it up into a high ponytail. She pulled on her favorite pair of knee high, black suede, heeled boots before sticking her wand and manuscript into her beaded bag, which she had transfigured black with metallic sequins to match her outfit and leaving through the front door, locking and warding it behind her.

As her flat was only a few blocks from Louis's Harley Street practice, she decided to walk to where she was meeting them, the local pub she and her brother frequented after work.

She made it to the pub in record time, considering the heels, and made her way towards the horseshoe bar where her brother sat, drinkless. He hadn't seen her yet so she decided to see if she could make him jump. He was usually impossible 'to get'.

"Guess who?" She asked from directly behind him, her hands covering his eyes.

It sort of worked. There was a slight flinch but she could feel his face pull up in a grin.

"Some witch I used to know… she never calls… never writes." He answered sarcastically.

"Lou…" she whined, regaining her hands and pulling him into a hug, "you can't say stuff like that in public. And I write all the time. Also, you're the one who never answers your damn mobile."

After returning her hug, he pulled back with his hands held up, "H, I'm sorry I'm not in touch more. You know how busy the practice gets this time of year and I have a personal life now too, for a change. I'm glad we're managing to catch up now though. I just ordered pie and chips for the three of us - your favorite too."

"Steak Ale?" Hermione asked with the excitement of a child in her eyes.

"Like I'd forget your favorite pie. You made me learn how to make it from scratch every time I had to look after you. And no nicking my chips when you've finished yours."

Hermione stuck her tongue out at her brother and laughed but waved off his insistence of keeping his chips to himself. The bartender arrived in the next breath and set three glasses in front of them - a pint of bitter (his), a cider and black (hers) and what looked like a white wine spritzer (the girlfriend). Lou grabbed the pint and the wine, whilst Hermione picked up her own drinks and followed her brother to a booth in the back of the pub where a starkly familiar looking woman sat.

"Padma?" Hermione gasped, surprise lacing the tone of her voice and flashing in her eyes.

"Hi, Hermione!" Padma smiled at her, nervously.

"Oh Merlin," Hermione sat down across from her brother and Padma, "So you're the mystery woman my brother has been telling me about for the last month. Small world, huh?"

Padma blushed, "A month? But we've only been dating for a few weeks?"

Hermione chuckled, "My brother is a complete sap. I think he's been half in love with you since he first hired you. It's sweet in a way but his letters have become somewhat repetitive."

"Really?" The other witch asked.

"Mm-hmm. I'm generally reminded of how Aladdin describes Princess Jasmine to the genie in 'Aladdin'... he talks about your hair a lot and your eyes. Then he gets into what a help you are with patients and how understanding you are about long hours."

Padma giggled and fluttered her eyelashes at Louis; the man himself rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at his sister but there was a distinct blush working it's way over his cheeks. Hermione lived to embarrass her brother. It was an act of revenge for the first time he'd met Harry and Ron - an event in which he called her the magical equivalent of an actual bookworm. Between the easy quests for revenge and the tongue sticking-out levels of insult, their sibling rivalry was childish but ultimately a loving way to growl at each other that they both seemed unable to give up.

"At least I did something about it and asked her out, instead of what you did, which was what? Pine over the blond for, how long… eighteen years? That weird hat you told me about doesn't know what it's talking about… house of the brave, my arse." Louis retaliated, amused.

Hermione rolled her eyes and once again stuck her tongue out at her brother. If it was anyone else, she'd have saluted him 'bird-style' but she liked their childishness. Plus, Louis had a point, she had pined for years. Not that she could've really done anything about it for the first ten, first Draco was a git and a bully, then a Death Eater; then he was married and widowed with a baby. It wasn't actually her fault. She considered the idea that it had been quite cowardly of her to not go after Draco earlier… but things usually got in the way, like wars and friends, grieving and working too much. Not that she would admit such a thing and made conscious mental efforts to make herself believe it too.

Padma sipped at her spritzer and smiled, watching the siblings interact. She never would have guessed that there was almost an eight year age difference. She decided it was because Louis did not look his 39 years at all, although Hermione still looked good for 32, as well. Her skin was still pretty much flawless, except for the freckles that dusted across her nose; her curls were sleek these days instead of bushy like they were at school. She could see where Draco's attraction lay; they would also be a good match intellectually.

Once the food was delivered to the table, Hermione 'muffliato'd' their booth and the three of them caught up on life and business, friends and other more trivial matters. Hermione explained to Padma that she had started dating Draco Malfoy and that they had signed a marriage contract. Padma pretended to be surprised as she believed Draco's visit to meet Louis was meant to be kept secret from Hermione. In her mind, this forethought counteracted the idiocy of not realizing Hermione was Louis's sister. Her Ravenclaw prowess was restored.

Louis cut into the conversation asking if Hermione and Draco had made up yet since the fight. She sighed and explained that she and Draco were barely speaking, mainly using Brix to communicate.

Louis rolled his eyes, "Stubborn witch."

"Hey!" Padma and Hermione protested together, recognizing 'witch' being used as a derogatory term. He held his hands up in surrender, suddenly feeling the amount of fire-power that surrounded him because of witches.

Padma nudged him and shook her head at him before turning back to her Hermione, "I'm sorry you're fighting but surely it's not as hostile as it used to be at school."

Hermione shook her head, looking miserable.

"I'm sure things will work themselves out in time. Do you remember the Yule Ball in fourth year? Draco barely took his eyes off you from what I remember, so at least you weren't alone in all that pining. My own bloody date wasn't even pining after me."

"Ron was an idiot that night; you looked beautiful, Padma. I'd have pined for you if I was that way inclined. And thank you for saying what you did about Draco. I know we'll work things out, it's just hard to give in and stop being stubborn, especially to him. I know it's childish but it feels like if I go crawling back then I'm giving Slytherin the upper hand. I know, I know, it's stupid," Hermione said quickly when Padma started to say something to the contrary. "The problem is that it's how I was raised… don't give them an inch or they'll take a yard."

Louis thought that as Draco was planning a huge romantic proposal, he shouldn't let his sister dwell on the fight and asked about the upcoming birthdays of Jamie and Lavender. This conversation jogged Padma's memory and she turned to ask Hermione a question.

"Oh, I meant to ask, did you like the book I sent for your birthday?"

Hermione smirked, "The writing was atrocious but I enjoyed the underlying love story. I'm not sure it was accurately reflective of a bdsm lifestyle either but I won't deny some of the scenes were rather sexy. The lift for example, and the bath."

Louis looked between the girls and decided he absolutely did not want to know what book they were talking about. He figured it was best not to ask questions, considering how Ginny and Padma had spent two hours earlier that day discussing the same exact book.

Padma giggled at Hermione's sly look, "I'm glad you at least liked some of it and I know what you mean about the writing; I'm a bit of a literary snob too. I didn't put the pieces together that you were Louis's sister, though. When he'd mentioned you like to read, I had just finished reading the book and thought it might be a good gift for another girl around my age."

Hermione nodded, "I actually lent it to Ginny. She loved it. Oh, does Parvati know you're dating my brother?"

Padma smiled, "Not yet. I wanted to meet you before introducing Louis to magic, but then I put the pieces together and realized he would already know about magic because of you. I'm hoping to have Vati, Ron and the kids over when my parents visit from India next week. You're welcome to come as well. Louis offered to let me use his house because my flat isn't really big enough."

Hermione looked over at her brother before smiling back at Padma, "I would love to come. Louis's house was our parents before they moved to Australia. If you'd like help getting anything ready, let me know. Just owl me or have Louis send me a message on whatsapp. I'm usually working Monday through Friday, though I have the occasional meeting on Saturday, I'm generally available on weekends."

Padma nodded, "I'll definitely take you up on the offer. Thank you." Once they finished eating, Louis went back to the bar to get another round of drinks.

"It doesn't bother you that I'm dating your brother, does it?" Padma asked Hermione nervously.

Hermione shook her head, looking across the room at her brother before turning back to face Padma, "No, I'm happy if you're both happy with each other. My opinion on your relationship shouldn't affect it either way, but I could tell the first time he mentioned liking the 'new part-time receptionist' he'd hired that he was smitten."

Padma blushed and smiled, "I was so nervous when I finally realized that you were Louis's sister. I was mortified that I hadn't put it together sooner. I'm supposed to be a Ravenclaw."

Hermione grinned, "It isn't well known in the wizarding world that I've got a brother, so it's not surprising that you didn't put it together sooner."

The girl's conversation turned to Padma's healing research at St. Mungo's and Hermione's work on the petting zoo project for the Malfoy School. Once Louis returned with another round of drinks for them they talked more about the dentistry office and Louis asked Hermione to stop by to go over the new patient applications to decide who they should accept. The Granger Dental Practice catered mainly to high profile patients and had to be selective about who they agreed to work with. Most of their patients had been grandfathered in when Louis had taken over the practice, but they occasionally got the odd new applicant.

Around 9 o'clock, Hermione decided she should head out if she wanted to stop by the Manor to see Scorpius before he went to bed. Standing, she canceled the muffliato, hugged and air-kissed (like a proper pureblood lady) both Padma and Louis before offering to pay for dinner. When Louis refused to hear a word of it, she promised to write/call soon and headed out of the pub.

Once outside, she found an abandoned alley to apparate from and landed outside the front gates of the Manor. Since the contract signing, she could pass through the gates unaided by a family member and made her way down the path to the front door. It took a few deep breaths of the fresh air, taking in the crisp scent of the weather to calm her mind of what she would say if she bumped into the Master of the House but her stomach relaxed from the equal parts excitement and apprehension eventually. Brix opened the front door before she could even knock and ushered her inside.

"Mistress, you is finallys here. Master Scorpius be waitings up for Mistress to tells him a night night story." Brix said in an excited tone. Hermione grinned, knowing that Brix looked forward to hearing the stories Hermione told Scorpius just as much as the little boy did.

"Let's go then, we shouldn't keep the young master waiting, should we?" Hermione smiled at the excited elf and recalled where they had left the story last time.

Hermione still reveled at the beautiful decor on the now familiar path toward the family wing of the Manor. Brix led her into Scorpius's room and parked herself on the toy chest that sat at the end of the bed. The young boy was already tucked into his bed and waiting patiently but his face lit up when he saw Hermione come into the room.

"Mummy! Awe you hewe to tell me a night night stowy??" Scorpius asked excitedly.

"Of course I am, my brave boy." Hermione answered with a huge smile, moving further into the room whilst taking the manuscript out of her bag and taking a seat next to Scorpius on his bed.

He snuggled into her side and she smiled, "Now, where did I leave off last time?"

"Widing the dwagon, mummy." Scorpius squealed, enthusiastically. Hermioen was surprised he didn't get up and start jumping on the bed in his excitement.

"Ah, yes, riding the dragon out of the bank," Hermione remembered, running her fingers through his white blond hair and flipping pages to find the right place in the text.

"So, mummy, Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron had just rode the dragon out of the bank, rescuing it and getting ourselves out of the rather sticky situation of being trapped inside the bank. We rode on the dragon as it flew across the country, holding onto the spikes on it's back so we wouldn't fall off until we were certain we were safe.

Once we knew we were safe, we jumped off the back of the dragon and into a lake. That's when Uncle Harry had a vision that the bad guy, Tom, was going to attack Hogwarts. So, mummy apparated the three of us to Hogsmeade; that's the wizarding village near Hogwarts and when we got there we set off a very loud caterwauling charm and had to hide so the bad guys didn't get us."

"Oh no. Don't let the bad guys get you, mummy," Scorpius whispered , and when Hermione glanced at him she smiled at the fact that he had pulled his blanket up to almost cover his face in worry.

"They don't get us sweetheart, don't worry. Luckily, Aberforth Dumbledore, that's the old Headmaster's brother, hid us in his pub. It's called the Hog's Head and it has a secret passageway into Hogwarts. He sent a portrait to fetch our friend, Neville Longbottom, who came and led us through the passageway and into Hogwarts.

"Unkle Neville?" Scorpius asked sleepily. Hermione wondered how Scorpius knew Neville but didn't question it as his eyes were struggling to stay open. As stubborn as his father, Hermione thought.

"Yep. Neville was a real hero that day but we'll get to that later. When we got there, we found all of our friends, including Aunt Ginny and Aunt Parvati. They were all hiding together in the Room of Requirement, planning to fight back against the bad guys that had taken over the school. There were even professors helping with the plans to stand up to the baddies.

We knew we had to find and destroy the last object the bad guys had hidden and we suspected that it was in Hogwarts because of Uncle Harry's vision. So we called the Order of the Phoenix, who were the main group of people fighting against Tom and his bad guys, and when they arrived, Uncle Harry set a trap for the bad guys that had already gotten into the castle.

Once they abandoned their posts, Uncle Harry went off to search for the last object, while Uncle Ron and mummy went into the Chamber of Secrets, which is a special room under the school that one of the Founders made, to look for a way to destroy the object. We decided to use the fang of a giant snake called a basilisk, because the poison stays in the fang even after the snake is dead. So we got the fang and met Uncle Harry back in the Room of Requirement.

That's where we ran into your daddy and two bad guys. Daddy looked miserable, but the two bad guys fought with us and one of them set fire to the entire room, thinking he could control a very dangerous magical fire called Fiendfyre, which is almost uncontrollable so you must never use it.

Once the room had caught fire, Uncle Harry, Uncle Ron and mummy were leaving the room when we heard daddy screaming for help. I told Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron that we couldn't leave him there to die, so we grabbed some brooms that hadn't caught fire yet, and you know, mummy really hates flying on a broom, but we flew to where daddy and the bad guys were climbing up burning piles of old junk and Uncle Harry was able to save one of the bad guys and mummy was able to get daddy onto the broom. Uncle Ron tried to save the other bad guy too but the bad guy refused to take Uncle Ron's hand and ended up falling into the fire.

Once we were out of the Room of Requirement, Uncle Ron handed the fang to Uncle Harry, and he stabbed the fang through the object before throwing it back into the burning room. Daddy and mummy looked at each other but we didn't say much; he just looked at me and nodded as a sort of thank you, I think, before looking around to make sure no other bad guys were around, then he ran off to find your grandma, I think."

As Hermione reached the end of the page, she heard soft, even breathing coming from under her arm and closed the manuscript pages, wandlessly floating the pages to the bedside table. She glanced down and saw her little boy's eyes closed, his little chest gently rising and falling with his breath.

She really didn't want to leave yet, she'd missed him so much today, so she leaned her head back against the headboard. She fell asleep slowly, ignorant of the fact that it was even happening. It also escaped her notice that she and Scorpius were not alone. The man standing just inside the doorway, watching her cuddle their little boy, remembered the exact moment in time she had just spoken about. He wiped a tear from his eye that had welled with emotion that Hermione would protect Scorpius from the worst of his actions that night.

Once he was certain she was asleep, he crept over to the bed and pulled a blanket over her so she'd be warm overnight, though he knew from experience that Scorpius was a mini-furnass. Leaning over, he kissed Scorpius's forehead first, then moved to Hermione's cheek and left a soft brush of his lips against her freckles.

"I love you," he whispered. "I'm so sorry. You're an amazing mother."

"I love you too," she breathed back, unaware that she wasn't dreaming.