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CHAPTER 27

It had taken us a while to get blood flowing back to our limbs to allow us to actually get up from the bed and into the shower, but the lukewarm water washed the sweat away and cooled us considerably. Hermione's goofy grin had made me laugh, and her insistence that we would definitely be doing that again had brought about my own grin.

Now we were curled together on the bed, Hermione pressed into my side, her fingers tracing meandering swirls across my chest. The warm ocean breeze caused the sheer curtains to flutter and float in the doorway, and the light from the full moon illuminated the room.

"I wonder if you'll ever stop surprising me, Lucius Malfoy."

"I often wonder the same about you."

"I surprise you with the idiotic things I say," she said. "You surprise me by fucking me senseless and turning me into a puddle of goo."

I laughed and kissed her head. "I didn't fare so easily either. I thought I was going to beat you to the finish."

Giggling, she kissed my chest. "I wouldn't have cared if you did."

She paused her meandering fingers and inhaled a quiet breath. I waited for her question, knowing exactly what she wanted to ask.

"Why don't you ever finish in my mouth?

I sighed and leaned my cheek to her crown. "I do love when you take me in your mouth, but I don't imagine the finish is a pleasant experience for a woman."

"You put your mouth on me all the time, Lucius. I can't imagine that's pleasant either."

"I could live with my mouth on you," I told her. And I could. I loved the taste of her, loved the feeling of her shuddering against my tongue.

Hermione propped herself up on her elbow, smiling sweetly at me. "So, why do you think I wouldn't love the taste of you?"

"Your logic astounds me," I replied with a laugh then cupped her cheek, "Hermione, darling, I just think it's a much messier prospect for you, and honestly, I prefer to lose myself inside you."

She leaned down and kissed me. "Well, if you ever change your mind, just know, I don't care how messy it is. In fact, I wouldn't even care if you came all over my face."

I stared at her for a beat, then began laughing. I pulled her face close to mine and whispered against her lips, "Don't ever stop surprising me."

Just as her hand slipped beneath the sheet covering us, her phone buzzed beside the bed.

"Seriously?" she muttered and rolled over to retrieve her phone. "You're on speaker, Harry. Don't say anything bad about Lucius."

"Funny," Harry responded and I could almost hear his eye roll. "How's Bora Bora?"

"It's a good thing this isn't a video call, it was just about to be amazing… again," Hermione said. "You couldn't have waited another hour?"

"Sorry," Harry replied dryly. "I guess my spidey-senses aren't working today. I'm a bit giddy."

"Is everything alright?" I asked. "Is Pansy alright?"

"Pansy's asleep. So is our baby."

"Oh my god, Harry!" Hermione cried. "When?"

"About three hours ago."

Harry did indeed sound giddy. I remembered the feeling. Draco's arrival had brought a permanent smile to my face at the time. And the heavy sense of having created new life was one I was still astounded at.

"He's three weeks early. But he's healthy."

"He?" Hermione and I both spoke the word together.

"Yeah," Harry laughed. "Pansy never allowed us to find out for sure, and we just slipped too easily into saying she. But we're both completely besotted with him."

"And Pansy is okay?" Hermione asked. "Her labour wasn't too traumatic?"

"She's perfect. It was just a few hours, but she was… holy shit! She was incredible. I've no idea how she managed to push him out of her body."

"Well, women are amazing," I said, and the image of Pansy smirking as she told me I would never see her lady garden brought a smile to my face.

"You need to send pictures." Hermione demanded. "I can't wait until we get home to see him. And what's his name?"

"Well, that's part of the reason why I rang you first. I needed to ask Lucius something."

"Of course," I said. "Anything."

"Pansy and I have been talking, and if it's alright with you, we want to name him Albus Severus. We didn't know him, but we wanted to honour your friend."

Hermione touched my arm, her eyes filling with tears. A lump formed in my throat and I couldn't speak. I was dumbstruck: Harry wanted to name his son after a man he'd never met.

"Hermione? Lucius? Are you still there?"

"Yes," I croaked, then cleared my throat, "Yes, we're here."

"You made us both cry, Harry."

"That wasn't my intention," he said. "We just wanted to give him a name that meant something."

"Severus would be honoured," I managed to say. "As am I, Harry. Thank you."

"We weren't sure what you would think," Harry admitted. "My father's actions are nothing to be proud of. I just hope my son will do Severus' name justice."

"I've no doubt he will, Harry." I squeezed Hermione's thigh as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Now, go and enjoy your son. And give our love to Pansy and Albus."

"And send pictures!" Hermione added as we said our goodbyes.

I laid back on the pillows, and stared out at the stars. Albus Severus. I could hardly believe it. A year and a half ago, I didn't even know Harry, and now he was naming his son after my friend. I hoped unnecessary guilt at his father's actions hadn't influenced his choice, but supposed guilt had probably played its part. I also supposed Severus' life was something to be celebrated, and Harry was now allowing that to happen.

"That was unexpected," Hermione said as she lay down beside me.

"I don't even have any words."

"You don't need to say anything. I told you Harry is a good guy."

"Yes, he definitely is," I agreed as her phone buzzed several times in quick succession.

She quickly opened the message stream and we were met with pictures of baby Albus. The first must have been only seconds after his birth. He was laying on Pansy's chest, her hands wrapped around him, his little face screwed into a wail. Harry was kissing Pansy's forehead while she laughed and tears rolled down her cheeks. The next was more subdued. He was still on his mother's chest, but he was now covered with a blanket and a blue beanie. His eyes were wide open, staring straight at the camera. The next was of Harry holding him, an expression of complete amazement on Harry's face. The final one must have been just recent; little Albus bundled tightly and laying in the hospital crib.

"Oh, he's adorable," Hermione crooned, flicking back through the photos then sending a message to Harry, telling him she wanted a new photo every day. She also sent a congratulatory message to Pansy, filled with heart-eye emojis.

I wrapped my arm around her, holding her closer, smiling as she repeatedly flicked back and forth through the four photos.

"Sorry you're not there," I apologised.

"Lucius, no! He wasn't expected until we got home. This isn't your fault. Besides, I would have had to come home from Paris to meet him anyway."

She paused on the first photo, studying the image. Pansy's hands wrapped around her newborn son, tears streaming down her face. It was the perfect image of overwhelming relief and complete joy. And Harry's face, filled with so much love and adoration for his wife.

"Look at them," Hermione murmured. "They're a perfect little family."

"They are," I agreed, hearing the underlying sentiment. She wanted that perfection. She wanted to send those photos to her friends. And while I wasn't a praying man, I was asking the universe almost daily that she would get her wish.

"I'm going to spoil him rotten." She took one last look at the photos then tossed her phone aside. "Aunt Hermione is going to be his absolute favourite."

"You already have Scorpius' undivided attention, and all that took was playing trains with him. I don't think it will take much more effort with little Albus."

Hermione wrapped her arm around me and snuggled in closer. I ran my hand along her arm and we lay quietly, the lapping of the water below us pulling us both into a sleepy doze.

"Do you think we'll have that?" she asked quietly.

We'd discussed our decision to talk with fertility experts a few times since our initial conversation. I'd spent some time researching who was the best, and I knew she had too. But we'd both kept our hopes of a positive result at bay.

"What we have is already perfection," I assured her. "But if we are fortunate enough to add to the craziness, the perfection will be doubled."

She smiled into my chest. "And this is why I love you."

The cold air that hit us as we stepped out of Heathrow airport was jarring to say the least. November was just a few days away, and winter was clearly beginning to make itself known. We'd been spoiled by the warmth of the South Pacific, and were both now shivering.

"That was the stupidest idea you've had,"

Hermione grumped half-heartedly, zipping her jacket to her chin. "Taking me to a warm island then bringing me home to this."

I kissed her reddened cheek. "You're welcome."

"Mr Malfoy, Ms Granger. Welcome home."

The car and driver I'd arranged to pick us up were waiting at the kerbside, and Hermione shot me an incredulous look.

"We're still officially on holidays until we step into our flat. The car and driver are well within our two-weeks-of-being-spoiled arrangement."

The driver opened the door and Hermione shook her head, huffing a laugh. "You're certifiable, you know that?"

"Certifiably sweet, or certifiably charming?" I ask, amused.

"Certifiably insane."

The driver shut the door and loaded our bags in the boot. Hermione shifted across to the centre seat, looping her arm through mine and leaning her tired head on my shoulder. The car pulled away from the kerb and we were finally on the last leg of a very long journey home.

"Lucius?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you. This was the most amazing holiday."

I leaned my cheek on the top of her head. "Are you considering re-evaluating our arrangement?"

"No," she sighed sleepily. "Two weeks was enough. But it was perfect. I wholly regret my tantrum."

My hand found hers, threading our fingers together. "I'm just grateful you didn't say no, and allowed me to give you this."

"I'm grateful that you were able to make me pull my head out of my arse."

"It was quite the feat," I said, earning myself a poke in the ribs.

"Why am I so tired?" she murmured, sinking deeper against me. "We've done virtually nothing these last few days."

"We've been in transit for twenty-three hours," I reminded her. "Exhaustion is inevitable. It's the downside of international travel."

"I wanted to go straight to Pansy and Harry, but now we're home, I just want to sleep."

"We have a week before we leave for Paris. You can spend all your time with Albus after you sleep off the jetlag."

"Hmm," she hummed, and I knew she would most likely be snoring before we arrived at our door. I also knew I wasn't far behind her.

My eyes were heavy, and I looked forward to sleeping in my own bed for the next several hours. I'd become accustomed to travelling early in my career, but long hours, and weeks away from home, meant returning was always a source of relief. And while I knew we were headed off again in just seven days, it would be to a rented flat in Paris an hour and half flight away, not half way across the world.

"Lucius?" Hermione's voice was slurred, causing me to smirk. She's more relaxed than I've seen her in all the time I've known her.

"Yes, darling?"

"Thank you."

"You already thanked me."

"Yeah," she sighed deeply and my cheek resumed its place on top of her head.

"Sleep, darling. I'll wake you when we're home."

OoOoO OoOoO OoOoO

I tipped our driver more than generously after he assisted with bringing our luggage upstairs. Hermione had been near impossible to rouse when we finally arrived home, and he assured me he was only too happy to help.

Closing the door, I snibbed the lock and made my way to our bedroom. She was in the bathroom, stripped down to just her knickers, washing her face. She looked as exhausted as I felt.

"If anyone calls or turns up unexpectedly, I will punch their face," she mumbled behind the wash cloth.

"I will support you entirely in that endeavour."

Undressing down to my boxers, I dropped each item of clothing into the hamper as she watched. I was exhausted, however my body still stirred at the near-naked sight of her.

"Don't even think about it, Lucius Malfoy," she warned. "Sleep is where we're headed. Keep that to yourself."

"Please accept my most humble apologies," I answered with a small bow. "That part of me has a mind of its own when it comes to you. Especially in the state you're in."

She moved closer, wrapping her arms around my middle, which only served to exacerbate the problem further. "After we sleep, I promise I'll let you ravage me. Again."

I kissed her then pressed my thumb to her nipple. "I'll hold you to that."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you will."

Laughing, I flipped the bathroom light off and followed her to the bed. The second I laid down my entire body deflated and I knew any ravaging would be days away.

"This bed is officially my most favourite place on the planet," she said, rolling to her stomach.

I reached for her, squeezing her hip, and I hummed in agreement. My eyelids were like lead weights and the effects of long distance air travel finally devoured me.

"I don't even want to stand near either of you," Pansy complained. "I'm all pasty and pale and you two look like you just stepped off a beach in the South Pacific."

"Dramatic much?" Hermione deadpanned, her attention solely on baby Albus, who was cradled in her arms. "You just had a baby. You're supposed to look pasty and pale due to a lack of sleep."

We'd slept for almost 17 hours, then spent the next 24 trying to re-acclimate to our time zone. The hazy, light-headedness that came with travelling through several different time zones finally wore off, and after three days at home, Hermione was itching to meet the new baby.

"A lack of sleep isn't a huge problem," Pansy explained. "I mean, I'm exhausted, but this kid is so chill, what he's doing now is pretty much all he does. He sleeps."

"Is that normal?" Hermione asked, the expression of concern on her face was adorable.

"Apparently it's fine," Harry answered. "He's back to his birth weight, and is doing all the things he's supposed to: eat, sleep, poop. But sleep seems to be his favourite."

"Enjoy it while it lasts," I said. "Draco was very demanding for the first three months of his life. Although, his mother did sleep soundly while I attended to him."

They all looked at me sympathetically and I held up my hand, waving away their expressions.

"I enjoyed being with him, so it was fine."

"What a bitch," Pansy stated bluntly. "This little guy is our entire world right now. I can't imagine not wanting to watch him every moment."

"Plus, he's very cute," I said. "Who wouldn't want to look at his sweet face?"

Pansy laughed and squeezed my shoulder. "Naww, look at you, Lucius Malfoy. Being all soft and cuddly over my baby."

"You should see him with Scorpius," Hermione quipped. "He turns into a giant marshmallow."

"Well, that's definitely understandable," Pansy said. "Scorp is definitely a marshmallow maker."

"He definitely is," I agreed. "And how are you doing, Pansy?"

"Well, my lady garden has seen better days." She winked at me, causing me to chuckle. "Other than that, I guess I'm alright. I have a two week old baby, and since I really don't know what I'm doing yet, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to be."

"Well, what I'm seeing is that you're doing perfectly fine." I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gave her an encouraging squeeze. "I mean, Albus is still breathing."

"Ha ha," Pansy drawled then glanced at Hermione. "You married a real comedian."

"She's been amazing with him," Harry chimed in. "I'm still terrified I'm going to break him by breathing too loudly."

"That'll pass," I assured him. "And you'll be an expert in no time."

"You should hold him," Hermione said, smiling at me. "Show us all the expert you are."

"He appears rather content right there with you." I returned her smile, unable to stop myself from picturing a similar scenario with a baby of our own.

"Since you're sticking around, he should get to know you too." Pansy elbowed my ribs playfully. "Uncle Lucius."

"Ha!" Hermione laughed. "If Albus becomes friends with Scorp, Lucius will be Gah-pa!"

Harry stood from his chair and eased Albus from Hermione's arms. And when he moved towards me, I stood, understanding what he needed to do.

"Lucius, this is Albus Severus."

I gladly accepted the tiny boy, holding him close while memories of the first time I held Draco and Scorpius filled my mind. They were both so small and vulnerable, and the protective instincts I felt with them, I now felt with Albus.

"Albus Severus Potter," I spoke quietly as I walked to the window, needing some space from the others. "The man whose name you carry was one of the most remarkable men I ever had the privilege of knowing. He was intelligent and curious, quiet and observant, and loyal to a fault. He was a little bit odd, but that didn't change how I felt about him. He was a good friend, and I miss him greatly. And I know you will do his name proud."

I stared down at him, sleeping so soundly, and I had to swallow the lump in my throat. I wasn't one to believe in fate and destiny, but this tiny human was causing me to waver in my beliefs. If I hadn't caught Narcissa I wouldn't have met Hermione, which meant I wouldn't have met Harry and been able to confess my sins. Had none of that happened, Albus wouldn't carry Severus' name.

"You alright over there?" Pansy asked and I turned around to see their empathetic expressions.

"Yes," I answered with a nod, clearing my throat of the thickness my ruminating had caused. "I never thanked you both properly for giving him Severus' name."

"You don't have to," Harry said. "Severus is a good, strong name that has meaning. That's all we wanted for him."

"Well, I feel I should thank you anyway." I moved back to the sofa and sat down, lifting Albus to my shoulder and rubbing a gentle hand across his back.

"You're definitely an expert at this," Harry said with a nod in my direction.

"Yeah, and Albus definitely likes you." Hermione was watching me intently, the hint of a smile giving away her exact thoughts. I winked at her and snuggled Albus closer. She bit her lip and looked down at her lap, hiding her smile.

"Is there something you two need to tell us?" Pansy asked, looking between us both. "Because this telepathy thing you're attempting isn't working."

Hermione looked up, her cheeks tinged pink. "You know there's nothing to tell."

"You say that, but there's something definitely going on here," Harry said, eyeing Hermione in that way life-long friends did when they knew something was up.

She pulled her lip between her teeth, blinking over to me and I shrugged, indicating I was fine with whatever she wanted to tell them. And I was. If she continued with her 'nothing to tell' line I would go along with it. And likewise if she decided to tell them what our plans were.

"There's nothing to tell," she said again, then added, "Yet."

"Yet?" Pansy said, sitting up straighter, her tired eyes sparkling.

"After Lucius' book tour and after Paris, we've decided we should talk to some specialists and see if it's a possibility."

"Seriously?" Harry's expression changed from concerned to delighted in an instant.

"Lucius made me a promise when I first told him about my POI. He promised me he'd do everything he could to give it to me if having a baby was something I wanted." She looked at me and exhaled slowly. "He also promised me that I was enough for him if it wasn't possible."

Pansy landed a light punch to my shoulder. "You're a little too good to be true, Lucius Malfoy."

"Not at all. It's just easy to promise this one the world."

Pansy looked at Harry and threw her hands up. "Why don't you say things like that about me?"

I laughed then defended him. "He had some quite wonderful things to say about you when Albus was born."

"He really did," Hermione agreed, then added a little nervously. "We haven't told anyone else about this. Not even Draco and Katie."

"And no one will hear it from us," Harry assured her. "This is your story to tell, not ours. But we will be here to cheer you on."

"I know you will, but I don't want to get excited about this until after we find out what we need to do."

Pansy smirked at me, "You don't know what to do, Lucius? Perhaps we could get you some educational movies."

"He knows plenty," Hermione answered. "I'm surprised I'm not pregnant already with the amount of sex we have."

Harry pressed his fingers to his forehead and shook his head. "I'm happy to be your cheerleader, but I don't want to hear about the sex."

Hermione smiled sweetly at him, "You do know about sex, right, Harry? I mean, you were in the room when Albus was conceived weren't you?"

"Oh, he definitely was," Pansy assured her with a wink. "Lucius isn't the only one who knows plenty about the sex."

They both laughed and Harry rolled his eyes then looked at me.

"This is why we don't join them for lunch on Sundays."