Archive of Our Own ^beta

Hermione was walking with purpose down the corridor to the Floo system at Hogwarts, or so she told herself. She had just wrapped up Rose’s parent-teacher conference and had caught a glimpse of platinum hair in the classroom next door because, of course, Granger-Weasley would forever be listed on paper immediately before Greengrass-Malfoy in the cruelest twists of fate. She'd actively avoided him for the better part of 15 years, the source of a heartbreak which had only become exacerbated with time. Time heals all my arse, she told herself as she reached for the Floo powder on the mantle, her trembling fingers knocking the tin from the ledge, spilling all over the floor. 

"Fuck," she hissed as she bent down to pick up the tin, the fabric of her pencil skirt pulling tightly against her curves. 

"Now, that's an arse I'd recognize anywhere," came a familiar drawl from the door to the chamber. Hermione froze, the voice taking her back to that day on the beach where he'd promised to find her only to have her heart shattered when she read in the paper that he'd married Astoria a week later. A marriage contract. Bound by duty. Sealed by her heartbreak. 

No, she wouldn't cave to his silken, promise filled voice ever again. She tossed the powder into the flames, turning them the color of the grass they'd kissed on and the forests they'd run through together. 

"Hermione Granger's flat," she said, stepping forward only for a pair of strong arms to wrap around her waist and tug her back. 

"I don't think so, Golden Mama," Draco purred into the shell of her ear. "You've been ignoring my owls for the last ten years, it's about time I got some answers."

He picked Hermione up, so her feet were barely above the floor and started carrying her back the way they'd come. 

"Put me down, you prick!" Hermione seethed. 

"No," Draco said, flinging open the first curtain he could find to reveal an alcove. He stepped inside, his arm still wrapped around her middle as he set her on the stained-glass window ledge, only to then rest his hands firmly on her thighs. 

"You keep touching me like I belong to you, and I'll hex your bollocks off," Hermione hissed.

"Don't you, though?" Draco asked, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. His eyes lit up when he saw her earrings, tiny shell studs; the ones he'd bought her back in Malta all those years ago. "I promised I'd find you, Hermione, and you've spent a decade plus running from my advances."

Hermione turned her cheek to him, refusing to give him even a hint that she wanted to snog his bloody face off. "It seemed like you had the perfect life, even had a child with your wife. Couldn't have been that bad."

"Is that why you're so uptight? Weasley couldn't get you off?" Draco's hands slid higher up her thighs until they were practically wrapped around her hips. "You're angry that I upheld my contractual obligation to sire and heir."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm under no illusion that it took one try to conceive Scorpius."

"Oh, I can assure you it did. Exactly once, awkwardly, in the dark, with lots of giggling. What Astoria and Blaise did after that was neither here nor there. I loved Astoria, she came to be my best friend as we raised Scorp, but she was not the love of my life. I imagine the same as it was with you and the Weasel." 

Any and all resolve she had told herself she had snapped, her hands grabbing his face and tugging it to hers as their lips crashed together. Draco's hands tightened on her, and he chuckled softly. "There's my girl." 

"Stop talking and kiss me," Hermione murmured back, biting his bottom lip. 

"Yes, ma'am," Draco groaned, his own hand slipping up into her hair as their lips came together once more.

Albus came bursting into Rose's dorm room, interrupting her bedtime reading session. 

"Oi! Have you peeked at the map lately?" 

Rose's eyebrows furrowed. "You know I rarely check the map, what are you going on about this time?"

Albus practically flung himself on her bed as he shoved the map in front of her face, pointing to what was infamously known as 'Horny Corner.' 

"Is that?" Rose asked, her head tilting to make sure she was reading correctly. 

"Draco Malfoy snogging Aunty Mione? Yes, unless there is a glitch of epic proportions going on with my map." 

Rose reached into her drawer, retrieving her own copy of the map. 

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," she incanted as she tapped her wand to the parchment. The map bloomed to life, and sure enough there was her mum, in Horny Corner with Scorp's dad. 

"Can I borrow your invisibility cloak, cous?" Rose asked Albus. 

"No, you can't," Albus smirked. "You can't borrow it because I'm coming with you." 

Rose jumped out of bed, accioing her trainers from her closet so she could pull them on. Albus ran down the hall to his room, grabbing the cloak. They slipped out of Gryffindor Tower, practically hunched together thanks to Albus's bloody growth spurt, as they made their way to where her mum was with Draco. 

"What if they're having sex?" Albus asked, a cheeky, crooked smile on his face. 

"You seem too excited about that possibility," Rose replied. "But, if they are, we can obliviate each other back in the common room." 

"I don't know if I want that," Albus replied. "Your mom is hot."

"She's your aunt, you pervert," Rose practically gagged.

"By law, not blood," Albus said. "Uncle Ron gave up his shot, my time is coming." 

"You're barely 16," Rose whispered. 

"Exactly, legal age in one year." 

Rose elbowed him in the stomach. "Enough talking about my mum like she's some snack."

"Oh, she's not a snack, she's a whole damn meal." 

They got to the alcove, and both leaned to hear what was going on. It wasn't shagging, they were having an actual conversation. Potentially the first to ever occur in said alcove. 

"Draco, we can't do this again," Hermione whispered, barely loud enough for Rose to hear.

"Why not?" Draco asked, a hint of pain tinging his voice. 

"I just… I can't get hurt again. My divorce is still fresh, and I don't want Rose to get hurt if this doesn't work out."

"Then we take it slow," Draco offered. "We can do it properly this time, go on dates, show you off. I love you; I never stopped." 

"I just don't know," Hermione sighed. "I love you, too, but I need to be sure before I do anything drastic." 

"Can my surety be enough for both of us for now?" Draco asked.

Holy shite, Rose thought. This wizard is besotted. She had seen her parents together for her entire life. They were wonderful, they loved each other, but this interaction was already more than she had ever witnessed between them. It also made perfect sense now as to why her mum had almost frozen every time the Greengrass-Malfoy family had been mentioned. It had nothing to do with Scorp, and everything to do with this dad. 

"We need to get back before they come out," Albus whispered. 

Rose nodded and put her arm around Albus's waist as he threw his arm over her shoulder, beginning the huddle creep back to the dorms. Just as they got back to the Fat Lady, Rose let out a sigh. 

"Can I use the cloak; there is something I need to do?" Rose asked. 

"Sure, anything for my favorite cousin." 

As soon as Albus was back through the portrait, Rose headed to the Astronomy Tower where she knew Scorp would be. She had harbored a crush on the wizard since she was 11, keeping it tucked away tightly since every time she had mentioned him, her mom had reacted so oddly, assuming that there was longstanding history with his family that he kids weren't privy too. Longstanding history indeed, Rose thought as she ran up the spiral staircase. 

There he was, Scorpius the Swot, staring at the night sky through his Muggle telescope, a gift he had been given by his mum for his 16th birthday, left in the Malfoy vault all those years ago before her passing. 

"Hey Scorp," she greeted, pulling the cloak off her as she stood beside him. 

He jumped slightly, startled from his observations. "Oh, hey Rosie-Posie," he said, smiling faintly. "What's pulled you from your books?" 

Embrace that Gryffindor courage, she told herself. 

"Umm, you actually. I just wanted to let you know I like you, a lot, have for years, and I, well, just wanted to let you know." Embarrassment washed over her as she tugged the cloak back on and made a dash for the stairs. 

"Rose! Wait!" Scorp called after her, grasping at where he assumed her invisible body was. She froze on the steps, deciding that being let down while invisible was most definitely preferable to him seeing her cry. "Come back here, Rose, I know you haven't gone down the stairs yet, the second step from the top creaks." 

Rose let out a sigh and pulled the hood from her head, turning to face him, his gray eyes as bright as the stars behind him. 

"Can I hold your hand?" Scorp asked, extending his arm towards her. "You're my best friend," he began. 

Oh, well, here we go, we won't be friends after this, Rose told herself. 

"And I've had a crush on you for a while now, too." Scorp finished. 

"Wait, really?" Rose asked, eyes widening from surprise. 

"I mean, yeah? It kind of just hit me one day that I really like you, and in a way that was more than just wanting to be your best friend." 

Rose blinked, repeatedly, making Scorp grin. "Want to come look at stars with me?" He asked, motioning to his telescope. 

"Oh, yes, I'd love that," Rose stuttered, joining him at the scope. 

"Awesome," Scorp said. "I can show you the constellation my dad bought for my mum; it's shining extra bright tonight. He always says when it's shining brightly that something is happening here on Earth that she's happy about."

Malfoy Manor

Hogwarts had implemented a mandatory fall break due to the need for teachers to have sanity breaks more often than just a week at Christmas. They hadn't been so blatant about it, but when Theo had been caught smoking a joint with Neville in the greenhouse, Professor McGonagall had taken their mental health a bit more seriously. Scorp was home, and they had planned a trip to Malta for a few days. His stomach had been in knots, he hadn't been there since his first, and only if he had anything to say about it, breakup with Hermione. 

The door to Draco's study creaked open, and in came Scorp. 

"Hey dad, is it okay if I bring a friend with on our trip?"

Draco lowered his paper, his eyes curious. "Which friend is interesting enough to bring on our trip?"

Scorp shuffled slightly on his feet. "Rose Granger-Weasley?"

Draco's stomach dropped. Play it cool. "Of course," Draco drawled, reaching for his paper, needing something to keep him from seeming over enthusiastic about Rose joining their trip. "So long as her mother comes with."

Scorp let out a sigh that only a teenage boy in love could muster. "You know she'll never agree, the woman is a workaholic. Can't her dad come with instead?"

Draco almost choked. "No, Ms. Granger-Weasley comes with, or you're stuck with just your old dad."

Scorp grumbled something under his breath as he turned to leave the study, pulling the door closed harder than was warranted. 

"Have fun telling your teenager no, Granger," Draco smugly chuckled as he picked up his paper to continue reading. 

The Granger Flat

There was a pecking at Hermione's study, a classic Malfoy Eagle Owl looking aristocratic as ever perching on the sill. With a flick of her wand, the window opened and in dropped a letter addressed to Rosie-Posie. 

"Rose!" Hermione called down the hallway to where her teen daughter was lying upside down on the couch reading. "Scorp sent you something!" 

Rose came running down the hallway, practically snatching the letter from Hermione's hand. "Thanks mum!" She said, ripping it open, her face lighting up as she read, only to fall as her eyes reached the bottom. 

"Dammit," she grumbled, throwing the letter in the bin. 

"What's wrong? Hermione asked. 

Rose let out a little huff. "Scorp invited me to go to Malta with him and Mr. Malfoy for the rest of the break." 

Hermione straightened in her chair, worrying her lip for a moment before asking, "Do you not want to go? You can always say no." 

"No! Thant's not it," Rose sighed. "His dad said I could only come with if you did. It's alright, mum, I know you're busy this week, I can just make plans with Albus instead." 

Draco Malfoy and his games, Hermione thought, but deep down inside, she did want to go to Malta. She wanted to go and leave the right way this time. Together. 

"I could take a few days off," Hermione said, setting down her quill. "I have a lot of time off saved up, and your dad is my boss, he'll be fine without me for a few days." 

"Wait," Rose said, her face lighting up. "You really mean it?" 

"Of course, if it's important to you, it's important to me," Hermione said. 

Rose flung herself onto Hermione, wrapping her in a hug that reminded her of when Rosie had been little. "Thank you, Mum! I'm going to go write Scorp right now and pack!" 

"Rose," Hermione said while she was halfway down the hallway. "Just tell Scorp that Crookshanks will need to come with, with the short notice, it will be late to find a sitter." 

Rose's eyebrows furrowed. "Can't dad or anyone else in the family watch him?" 

Hermione shook her head. "Nope," she replied, popping the p for emphasis. "Crookshanks comes, or we will have to try again a different break, maybe Christmas?" 

Rose rolled her eyes as she walked to her room, grumbling under her breath about how unfair the condition was. 

Checkmate, Draco.

"I can't believe that beast is still alive," Draco grumbled, eyeing the hissing Crookshanks in his carrier as they gathered in front of the Malfoy International Floo. 

"He's…." Hermione started. "Half-Kneazle, I remember," Draco finished. "But still, how old is he now? You got him in third year? We are 37? So, you've had him for 24 years." 

"Well, normal cats can live to be about 20, and half-Kneazles can live for 40 plus years."

"Forty?" Draco choked. "He's practically a family heirloom."

Hermione smacked him on his arm. "You're a prat." 

"Can we go already?" Scorp asked. "Watching you two flirt is nauseating."

"We are not flirting," Draco scoffed. 

"You are," Rose replied. "And I agree with Scorp, downright nauseating, subtle as a Bludger." 

"Scorp, would you do the honors then," Draco said, handing the canister of Floo powder to him. 

"Of course." Scorp took a handful of the dust and threw it into the flames. "Malfoy Malta Villa." 

They all arrived in the parlor of the Villa, the dust that had covered every surface gone thanks to the elves going ahead of time to get everything ready. 

"Do you still remember where your room is, Granger?" Draco asked. 

"Of course," Hermione replied. "As if I'd ever forget."

"Wait, you've been here before?" Rose asked, bewildered. 

"Yes," Hermione said, gathering her bag and Crookshanks. "But that was a long time ago."

"Rose will be in the room next to yours," Draco added as he picked up his own bag. "Scorp, can you show her the way."

"Umm, I've never been here dad. I don't even know where it is." Scorp reminded with a trademark teenage eyeroll. 

"I can show her, Draco," Hermione said, gesturing for Rose to follow her. 

"You're this way, Scorp," Draco said, tilting his head the opposite direction. 

"Can I help Rose to her room first?" Scorp asked, shuffling slightly on his feet. 

"Come set your stuff down, then we can meet for lunch out back, and then you can go see Rose's room," Draco insisted, heading down the hallway to Scorp's room. 

"Where are you sleeping?" Scorp asked. "Down this hallway?"

"No, my room is next to Hermione's," Draco said.

"So, I'm banished?" Scorp asked. 

"No, this is just my old room. If you'd like a different room in our wing, I can move you to there."

They stood in front of the door, Draco's hand resting on the doorknob waiting Scorp's answer. "This room is fine," he grumbled. 

"Wonderful," Draco said, swinging the door open. The door creaked open, revealing an untouched memory trove. The shelves were lined with his favorite books from Hogwarts, moving pictures of him with Theo, Pansy and Blaise from eighth year, a few of him with Goyle and Crabbe from earlier years. 

On the very top shelf was a picture of Hermione jumping off a rock with him, an endless loop from the summer that had changed his life forever. Draco crossed the room and took the frame down, slipping a fake back off the frame where he'd put the ring he'd bought her all those years ago, pocketing the ring in his trousers. 

"Is that Rose's mum?" Scorp asked, craning his head over Draco's shoulder. 

"Have you seen anyone else with curls like that?" Draco asked, tilting the photo so Scorp could see. 

"Rose?" Scorp offered before looking up at his dad. "Did you date Ms. Granger?"

Draco cracked his neck from side to side. "No, not traditionally at least. She ended up switching portkeys with Theo the summer after our eighth year at Hogwarts accidentally ended up here with me instead."

Scorp raised his eyebrows, urging Draco to continue. "We had a good summer together. Toured around, you know, summer shenanigans."

Draco crossed the room to sit on the edge of the bed, Scorp joining him. 

"Did you love her?" Scorp asked, his fingertips pressed together. 

Draco let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "That was a long time ago, Scorp. Things are different now."

"That's not a no," Scorp pressed. 

"You know, Lucius would never have entertained a question like that," Draco said. 

"Lucius loved Narcissa from his first breath to his last."

Draco templed his own fingers and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he dropped his head. "I loved your mother, Scorp. I still love your mother."

"Dad," Scorp interrupted. "I know you loved Mom, I know I was little, but you two were always there for each other. But, you've never been one to not go after what you've wanted, so why is this different?"

"I don't have an answer for you, Scorp," Draco admitted. "She just is, different, that is, than anything else I've ever pursued." Draco straightened his back and placed a hand on Scorp's knee. "This isn't your burden to bear though, I want you to have fun this week, Rose seems lovely, I'm glad you two are friends."

"Thanks dad, I can't wait for you to get to know her better too. She's amazing," Scorp gushed. 

Hmm, interesting, Draco thought. I wonder Scorp is under the same Granger trance.

"I'm going to go settle in," Draco said, standing and walking to the door. "If you need me, I'm the last door the opposite direction."

"Hey, dad," Scorp's voice called.

"Yeah, bud?" Draco asked, leaning into the room.

"You're allowed to be happy."

"I am happy, Scorp. I have you."

Scorp laughed. "Let me amend my statement. You're allowed to fall in love again."

Draco smiled back at his clone. "Thanks, bud, now settle in, see you for lunch. Love you."

A pang of guilt swirled in Draco's belly. Guilt about Astoria. Guilt about not telling Scorp that he and Hermione had been owling back and forth for weeks, and that they'd gone on a handful of dates at the Manor for discretion's sake. He would need to come clean at some point, once he knew Scorp's heart wouldn't be collateral damage if Hermione decided he wasn't who she wanted after all. Although, having Scorp's stamp of approval was a relief. He wondered if Rose felt the same, if Hermione was sitting on the bed explaining to Rose how she'd loved him all those years ago. 

He ran a hand down his face. One could only hope that this time would be real for her too. Real and permanent.

Draco stepped out onto the balcony connecting his suite and Hermione's room, seeing her leaning against the railing, looking out at the sea. He lit his cigarette, found from a pack that had withstood the test of time in a drawer next to his bed. He stood next to her, leaning down looking at the rock in the outlet - their rock.

"Those will kill you, you know," Hermione said while glancing over at him. 

Draco blew the smoke from his lips and leaned towards her. "Then indulge a dying man," he breathed as he grabbed her chin and tugged her towards him, brushing his lips against hers. 

"The kids might see us," Hermione murmured against his lips. 

"Let them see, Scorp could learn a thing or two about pursuing a beautiful, intelligent woman."

Hermione let out a laugh and pulled her shawl a bit tighter around her body. "How was your chat with Scorpius? I'm assuming you had one," Hermione asked. 

Draco nodded, vanishing his cigarette into the void. "How I ever smoked those things," Draco grimaced. "Chat with Scorp went well, he told me that I deserved to be happy and that he doesn't understand why I'm not pursuing you."

"Well, why aren't you?" Hermione teased, her shawl slipping slightly to reveal a black strap. 

Oh, she hadn't been wearing that to dinner.

Draco's brain shorted for a fraction of a second as he shook his head, clasping the railing. "Say the word, and everyone will know I'm very much so perusing you Hermione Jean." He looked out over the ocean and asked, "how was your chat with Rose?"

Hermione let out a sigh, dropping the shawl from her other shoulder. "It went alright; I told her how I sobbed on that rock over you marrying Astoria for three days."

Draco closed his eyes and shook his head as it fell forward. "Please tell me you didn't."

"I did, on both accounts."

"What did Rose say?"

"That out flirting makes her want to vomit and throw herself off that rock. She asked when I was going to be honest with myself and admit that I 'have a crush on the one man who could be my intellectual rival?'"

"Don't let the Weasel hear that," Draco winced, his nerves were still building knowing that he would have to face him at some point in his pursuit, especially since not only was his ex-wife and best friend part of the package deal, so was Rose. 

"Ron accepted he isn't book smart, but he's wonderful in enough other ways that it didn't matter. He was and is my best friend, he put together my very shattered heart the best way he knew how." Hermione turned to him, the shawl now parted open in the front. "When we get back, we're going to have to tell him, so I can then tell Rose."

"We?" Draco asked.

"Yes, we are going to a party at the Potter's to do a hard launch."

"Does that mean you'll be my girlfriend?" Draco grinned, the ring burning a hole in his pocket. 

"Girlfriend sounds so juvenile," Hermione said. "But, yes, I'd like to leave Malta together this time."

Fiancée was at the tip of his tongue. His knee threatening to give out and ask the question right there and then, but he knew her. She'd say no, ensuring the eternal balance of everyone in her life would be alright with such a big decision. "Lover," he offered. "Sweetheart, flame."

Hermione laughed, her curls blowing in the breeze. "Lover, seems the most accurate."

Draco slid his arm around her waist, pulling them together with her in front of him. "I love you," he whispered against her skin. 

"You keep saying that," Hermione replied, letting out a tiny gasp as his hand slipped under the shawl. 

"I'll keep saying it until you believe me," he whispered against her neck, pressing a kiss just beneath her ear. Hermione shivered in his embrace. 

"So, are we going to stand out here all night, or are you going to show me your fancy Lord of the Manor suite?" Hermione sighed. 

"You mean, show you it again," Draco said, his grip tightening ever so slightly. Last time they'd been in the suite together, they'd taken each other's virginity as he made promises he had every intention to keep. 

"Yeah, again," Hermione settled, tilting her head to look up at him. 

Draco swept a hand behind her knees, pulling her up into his arms so he could carry her into his room. 

"It looks untouched," Hermione noted, her eyes grazing over every detail. 

"I meant it when I said I've never been back," Draco said, lowering her to the mattress. "That's probably the same blanket we snuggled under after last time," he said, nodding towards a lush, ivory quilt folded at the end of the bed. 

Hermione dropped her shawl entirely, tossing it off the bed, revealing a black mesh teddy with snakes winding up the sides, curving around the perfect swell of her breasts, the tips of their tongues barely landing next to her nipples.

"Well, fuck me," Draco groaned as he ran a hand down his face. 

"That was the idea," Hermione teased, crawling across the bed, giving him a perfect view of her arse as she climbed under the covers. He pulled open the covers and climbed in next to her, lying to face her, their noses mere millimeters apart, Draco suddenly felt awkward, and keenly aware that the moment he'd had building in his head for years was now here and about to play out. 

"May I? Draco asked, lifting his hand to her cheek.

"Always the gentleman," Hermione replied. "You say you love me, Draco, now's the time to show me how."

"I hope you know I love you for more than just sex," Draco replied, lacing his fingers in her curls. "That is simply an added bonus and immense privilege."

"It feels like you're stalling," Hermione smirked.

"I am because I'm terrified," Draco confessed. 

"Mister Malfoy," Hermione tsked, her hand slipping down his chest to his trouser bottoms. "Why don't we start with getting you out of your evening ware first."

Draco felt like her hands slipping each button from the hole was a new form of torture, each passing second of anticipation sure to shave a year of his life. She peeled his shirt off, forcing him to sit up a smidge to work the fabric from his shoulders and arms. 

He gasped as she worked off his trousers, his cock hard in his silky pants, surely heaving a wet mark where he was already leaking. 

"Happy to see me?" Hermione asked as she straddled his hips, running a finger up his shaft. 

"Always," Draco managed to stutter as she leaned forward to kiss him, her hands slipping behind his head to angle him as their lips slotted together. His hands slid across her body, one cupping her arse while the other settled on her lower back, anchoring her to him. Hermione rocked her hips against him, causing him to gasp. "Love, if you keep that up, I might just come from you grinding on me alone."

"No, you won't," Hermione moaned as she rocked once more, biting his bottom lip. "Because you're going to be a good boy and not come until I say you can."

Draco rolled them, caging her in beneath him. "Well, darling, you're going to give me one of your beautiful orgasms first."

Hermione smiled, her eyebrow raised, little lines creasing next to her eyes. "There he is."

"There he is," Draco parroted, his hands sliding down her torso as he shifted between her legs, her thighs falling widely apart for him. 

He wrapped a hand around her thigh as he used his other hand to pull the fabric of her teddy to the side, baring her cunt for him. 

Draco looked up at her deviously. "Looks like I'm not the only one eager for this," he teased before flicking her already swollen clit with his tongue. 

Hermione's thighs clamped shut as she arched, making Draco chuckle against her core, the low rumbles had her hand grasping his hair, her hips grinding against his face. He stuck out his tongue, stroking her with it as he slid two fingers into her cunt, curling them as he moved them in and out. Watching her seek her high, using his body to come undone was simply addictive. She went boneless as her orgasm overcame her, gasping his name as she gently stroked his hair. 

Draco rested his cheek against her thigh, pressing a kiss to it before pushing up on his forearms. He nimbly climbed back up, pulling her into his arms. His lips captured hers, as his hands tangled in her hair. "Are you ready?" He whispered, their foreheads falling together as she whispered, "yes." 

Hermione pushed down his boxers, which Draco kicked off, landing somewhere on the floor. She then turned, revealing a line of minuscule buttons on the back of her teddy. Draco undid each one of them, pressing a kiss to the revealed skin as the fabric exposed her inch by inch. He helped her out of it before tossing it in a heap with his boxers. 

Their lips met gently as Draco lowered her to the mattress, the head of his cock aligning with her cunt as he thrust into her. 

"You're perfect," he groaned into her neck as their hips snapped together. Her nails clawed into his back and shoulder as she held him, the sound of skin clapping and Hermione moaning, "Oh, fuck, Draco," filling the room. Draco snaked his hand down, pressing her clit with his signet ring. He whispered out an incantation, bringing it to life with smooth vibrations.

"Draco," Hermione moaned, a stuttered gasp sending her over the edge as she orgasmed, her cunt squeezing around his cock, fluttering as she squeezed her legs and dropped her head back. Draco kissed the column of her neck and continued thrusting until he let out a hiss, his forehead dropping against hers as he spilled inside her, each thrust sending little drops of their mixed come spilling from her cunt onto the sheets beneath them. He let out a sigh as he confessed, "I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too, Draco," she said, her fingertips tracing the span of his back as they held each other, Draco's softening erection slipping out from inside of her. 

"The stars look beautiful tonight," Hermione noted as Draco craned his head to look out the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the vast ocean. He leaned over to grab his wand, flicking it to levitate the bed to settle right in front of the French doors leading to the balcony. Another flick had the doors swinging open, the curtains swaying with the beach breeze that ghosted across their bodies. Draco summoned the quilt, and wrapped the two of them in it, curling around her body, his hand on her waist holding her firmly, yet gentle. 

"Spend the night?" He asked, pulling her flush against him, eliminating even the slightest of space that had existed between them. 

"So long as it doesn't become a habit," Hermione sighed, raising her eyebrow at him.

Draco chuckled. "You're the one in my bed, whether it becomes a habit is up to you, my love."

It became a habit.

Malta became a blur of nostalgia as they visited places they'd ventured to as teenagers. 

At night, they continued sneaking into Draco's room like school kids out past curfew lest they face the wrath of Argus Filch. Draco normally rose before Hermione, his fingers tracing the curves and divots of her skin, her stretch marks glistening like tiger stripes in the morning sun from where she'd carried Rose. Her face has the slightest hint of wrinkles from laughing and smiling, crows feet next to her eyes. Their bodies had both changed, privileged to be aging with grace. His own covered in healed scars from trying to learn to cook and clean without a house elf or Astoria (he had caved and hired a house elf who was paid well), tattoos from trying to hide his dark mark in an attempt to conceal it from Scorp, and although he was loathed to admit it, in the wrong lighting it looked like his hair was graying; but only in the wrong lighting. Evidence that a whole lifetime had passed. 

"Good morning," Hermione yawned before curling into his chest. 

"Hey baby," he replied, rubbing her back as he held her against him. 

"Last day in Malta," Hermione said. "You aren't going to leave me on the rock again, right?"

Draco chuckled low, his chest rumbling against her head. He pushed a curl out of her face. "No love," his thumb caressing the apple of her cheek. He opened his mouth, wanting to talk about them, about more, but a phoenix patronus came flapping into the room.

"MOM I'M HUNGRY AND CAN'T FIND MY SNACK PURSE!" Rose whined. "And Scorpius ate all the good biscuits last night from that bakery, can we go out and get some more?"

Hermione let out a huff. "I should probably go take care of that." She kicked off the quilt and slipped out of bed. Draco followed, summoning a pair of joggers from his bag. "I'll come with, we can all go get some pastries together from down the street then go to down to the beach. It's out last day here, may as well go enjoy the ocean while we still can."

"Alright," Hermione conceded, brushing a kiss to his cheek before leaving out the French doors. She paused for a moment at the threshold, turning to add, "meet you downstairs in ten, don't forget to glamour your neck."

"What if I don't want to?" Draco smirked, leaning against the bedpost, folding his arms across his chest, weaponizing his biceps. 

Hermione pursed her lips and cocked her eyebrow. "Do you really want to fuck around and find out?"

Draco feigned insult, clutching his chest dramatically. "You'd punish me?"

Hermione's face broke into a grin. "Quite slowly and painfully." She threw him a wink and crossed the balcony to her room to take care of the teens' snackgate. 

Draco chuckled as he entered his bathroom, pulling on trousers and a linen button down for their walk down to the bakery. He carefully opened the top drawer, pulling Hermione's ring from it to stare at it for the umpteenth time since retrieving it from Scorp's room. For a moment, a flicker of doubt entered his mind. 

Would she even still want this ring? It was tainted by the memories of what had happened, how they had ended - no not ended, how they had been torn apart by aristocratic ideals and traditions. He set it back down in the drawer, covering it with a hanky in case Hermione used his bathroom and happened to open it. He braced against the vanity, the cool marble grounding him as he tapped his fingers against it. The reality was, he still wanted to give it to her. The stupid little ring still meant something to him, and godsdammit, he was going to give it to her. She could throw it into the sea after, for all he cared, but that ring carried the yearning of a decade and a half, and it would not stay buried in a drawer if he had anything to say about it. 

The door to his bedroom clicked open, and Scorp popped his head in. "You ready, dad? Rose is about ready to turn to cannibalism if she doesn't get a scone in the next few minutes." 

Draco let out a low chuckle, grabbed his wallet and met his son at the door. He put his hand on Scorp's shoulder and muttered, "we better get her a scone then, huh? And maybe next time save one for your best friend before eating them all."

"Well, how was I supposed to know she'd turn into a ravenous raccoon?" Scorp guffawed. 

Draco rolled his eyes. Teenagers. 

Rose and Hermione were waiting in front of the villa, the bougainvillea popping brightly against the limestone wall behind them. The ladies seemed deep in thought, and Draco could swear that their hair was getting bigger with each sentence exchanged between them. It was quite the view, Hermione with her chestnut curls deep in discussion with a miniature version with bright red, Weasley curls. 

"Are we interrupting?" Draco asked, resting a hand on Hermione's waist as they all congregated together. 

"Scones," Hermione replied. "We are discussing which flavor is best and she is insisting it's the chocolate kind."

"And you think blueberry is superior," Draco concluded. "Sorry, love, I think I have to side with your protege on this one." 

"You and your damned sweet tooth," Hermione grumbled. The four of them meandered down the cobblestone pathway to the main road, catching glimpses of the sea. Scorp pulled the door to the bakery open for them, smiling like he knew a secret that the rest of them didn't. 

"It's too early to look that smug," Draco whispered as he brushed past him to enter the shop. Scorp just shrugged. "It's never too early to look smug, it's the Malfoy in me." 

Rose was already at the glass confectionary display, pointing to the triple chocolate and sprinkled options within it.

"Whatever she wants, make it double please," Draco instructed the granny working the counter. 

"Whatever you want, doll face," she replied, shooting him a wink that made Hermione's fist noticeably clench slightly. The lady turned to Hermione and said, "Darling, I hope you treat your husband well, he is quite the catch." 

"Oh, he's not my husband," Hermione corrected, reaching to take the pastry box that was being handed to her. 

"Yet," the lady cheekily replied. 

Draco felt his face flushing, from a mix of embarrassment and desire. "We're just really good friends, we went to school together and our kids now go to school together," he added, gesturing to Rose and Scorp who were now sitting with their heads huddled together at a table, Hermione was already halfway to the table to join them. 

Draco handed the lady the money due, but she caught his hand as he pulled away. 

"You're the one who broke her heart last time, aren't you?" she asked, nodding her head Hermione's direction.

"Excuse me?" Draco asked, his jaw hanging open. 

"A lifetime ago, a younger version of that woman you are with came in here, eyes swollen and bought me out of every sugary thing she had. I watched her sit and sob over a box of pastries before she left." 

Draco swallowed and shuffled on his feet, convinced the woman's grip was going to leave a permanent bruise. "Yes," was all he managed to stammer out. "It was me."

"Well, don't let history repeat itself," she chided, dropping his wrist to pat his cheek. "Now go be a good lad and have breakfast with your family." 

Family.

The word hung in the air and sunk heavily into Draco's mind. He peered over his shoulder, watching as the discussion was animated, scone crumbs littering the table, everyone smiling like this was the most natural thing in the world. Draco turned back to the woman and smiled. "I won't mess it up again." 

She nodded at him and said, "Don't forget, I do wedding cakes young man." 

Draco slid into the booth next to Hermione. "So, what's all the ruckus about?" 

Scorp gestured for Rose to take the question. "We are talking about whether it really matters if you say LeviOsa versus LeviosA. There are over 7,000 languages on this earth, and surely the pronunciation would be affected across the dialects."

"It matters," Hermione said as she popped a piece of something green in her mouth. "Just ask your father."

"But," Rose continued, popping a piece of chocolate scone into mouth. "Was it because of his pronunciation, or because he can't swish and flick to save his life." 

Draco spat out his tea, sending droplets of it all over the table. Scorp eyed him suspiciously. "You alright there dad, that wasn't that funny." 

"Oh, it would have been funny if you'd been there that day," Draco said as he pulled himself together, snagging a sugar covered scone from the box. 

"Your dad is one of the head aurors at the DMLE, his wandwork is exceptional," Hermione noted, her eyes lifting to Draco's. "Actually, quite lethal from what I've heard and seen." 

Noted.

An elderly couple came and got a box of scones, smiling at their table. The elderly man tapped Draco's shoulder on the way out. "You've got a beautiful family there." He felt Hermione's hand brush against his thigh before squeezing his knee. 

"Thank you, sir," Draco replied. "They make my life feel whole." 

Hermione's eyebrows practically vanished into her hair, a smile tugging crookedly that she tried to hide behind drinking her own tea. 

Scorp rolled his eyes. "You're such a sap, should we head to the beach before he starts writing poetry?" 

"Women love poetry," Draco scoffed, standing to follow his son out. Hermione and Rose went to the counter and grabbed another box of scones before joining them outside. The walk to the beach was short, the tingle of wards rippling across his skin as they crossed the property's border. The tide was going out, and the seagulls were trying to catch little critters that had been left behind on the short. Hermione, ever the practical and responsible one, flicked her wand, transfiguring Rose's outfit into a swimsuit with long sleeves. 

"Mommmm," Rose complained. 

"You'll thank me when you don't look like a raisin by the time you're in your thirties," Hermione replied before tugging her own dress over her head, revealing a black one piece with a plunging front and high cut bottom. 

"Hold on, I have to wear this and you get to wear that?" Rose pointed out. 

"I get to wear this because I'm not a ginger who will burn to a crisp," Hermione countered. She accio'd a tube of sunscreen from her classically iconic beaded bag and lathered it on her skin, gesturing for Rose to come over for her lathering. 

Scorp eyed Draco. "Are you also going to give me the SPF lecture?" 

"No," Draco said. "If you burn, you burn." 

"How very Abraxas of you," Scorp teased. "Hey, Hermione, can I use some sunscreen please?" 

"Of course, darling," Hermione replied, tossing it over to Draco. "Make sure your dad gets your ears and the back of your neck." 

Draco hated the texture of the sticky lotion on his hands, and he hated even more how the sand seemed to stick to it like glue, but he found deep satisfaction in Scorp looking like a ghost with the muggle SPF smeared all over him. 

He caught Hermione walking to the water, wading until she was thigh deep before diving into the waves. She popped up next to the bloody rock and climbed on, looking out over the ocean. Draco looked over to where Scorp and Rose were sitting on a conjured blanket, then back to his witch. He tapped his trousers, transfiguring them into swimming trunks and tugged off his shirt, diving into the ocean after her. He pulled himself up onto the rock next to her, wiping the water from his face and pushing his hair out of his eyes. 

"This swimsuit should be classified as a weapon," Draco said, gently nudging her with his shoulder. "Sure to leave men and women dazed in your wake." 

Hermione smiled at him, tossing her drenched curls over her shoulder. "I know, I'm practically ruinous." 

Draco's finger gently traced down her thigh. "Do you want more than this?" Hermione's face softened. "More than vacationing in Malta with a man I've loved for almost half my life?"

"It is kind of a stupid question when you answer it like that." A beat passed, a sea gull squawked overhead.

"What do you want?" Hermione asked. 

"I mean, everything?" Draco said, gesturing to the ocean in front of them. "I know you've built a life, you work in the DMLE, you have Rose, and Ron, the Weasleys and Potters, but I'd like you to have me, well Scorp and me, too." 

"Do you think Scorp would want a mother figure?" Hermione asked, genuine concern lacing her words. 

"I don't think he would have issue with it," he answered honestly. "It's not like he really knows what he's missing, but he'll know what he's gaining with time."

They sat in silence as the sun crept higher in the sky, the tide making a full cycle. 

"We should go in," Draco said. "It's almost time to Floo back." 

"Alright," Hermione said, sitting up from where she had been lying on the rock, catching sun. She stretched her arms above her head, then dove into the sea below. Draco simply apparated to the shore, not wanting to get wet all over again. When Hermione saw him waiting with the kids, she took her hair and flipped it dramatically, shaking water droplets all over him. \

"Cheeky witch," Draco smirked. 

"You have no idea," Hermione winked.

"What if they don't like me?" Draco sighed, rubbing his hands down his pants as Hermione fluffed his hair for the fifth time that evening. 

"They'll like you, they have to, you're my boyfriend," Hermione assured, stepping back to evaluate his outfit. 

"I was also your childhood bully," Draco grumbled, unbuttoning the top button of his shirt; he swore the temperature was rising inside the Manor's entry, despite it being perfectly temperature controlled. 

"That was almost half a lifetime ago, if I've dropped it, surely they can too." Hermione took his hand in hers and guided him towards the Floo, his feet feeling like blocks of iron, resisting as he headed to the gallows. He wasn't ready to accept his fate when her best friends vehemently rejected their relationship. 

The flames glowed green, a reminder that he was a Slytherin. He was cunning. He was ambitious. He would slither his way into their affections, Salazar-damn-it. 

As they stepped through to Grimmauld Place, Draco felt the wards tingle around him, recognizing him as a member of the Noble House of Black. He straightened his spine as he pulled Hermione a smidge closer, fake confidence filling him for an entire half second until he heard the voice of The Boy Who Never Died down the hall conversing with his girl's ex-husband. 

"I'm willing to bet it's McClaggen," Ron boisterously declared. "He's been sending her letters, and they keep getting sent to our old flat and forwarded to me." 

Draco felt his temper flare at the thought of Cormac bloody McClaggen trying to contact Hermione - his Hermione.

"No, Cormac is trying to date Astoria, he's constantly bringing flowers to her desk," Harry noted.

"Hasn't stopped him before," grumbled Ron. "Wanker was trying to reach out to her before the ink was even on our divorce papers. Whoever this mystery dude is, if it's not McClaggen that is, I'd be his second in a duel with the bumbling buffoon."

Hermione knocked on the doorframe to the sitting room where everyone was gathered, holding Draco's hand back so he couldn't enter the room yet. "Knock, knock," she said. "I'm sure you are all aware that sound carries from this room."

Draco could hear the smile in Harry's voice as he said, "Oh, we are all certainly aware."

"Well, then, you all will be happy to know, I am not dating Cormac, although, Ron not forwarding that mail is a criminal offense."

"Lock me up, Granger, I know where you keep the handcuffs," Ron teased, inciting an eye roll from Hermione. 

"Well, without further ado, I'm pleased to introduce you to my mystery man," Hermione blushed as she tugged him forward, wrapping her arms around his torso as they stood in the doorway together. 

Draco cleared his throat and gave a nod to the room. "Good evening, everyone," he greeted, his eyes sweeping across three surprised faces before landing on the smug mug of Pansy flipping Parkinson. Pans' hand was twined with Ron's, resting in her lap, while she played with his hair with the other one.

"You owe me ten galleons," Pansy cackled, pulling her hand from Ron's hand, placing it palms up in front of him. Ron grumbled, pulling his wallet from his pants and handing over the gold. 

"What are you doing here?" Draco asked, his eyes flickering between Ron and Pansy.

"Well, isn't it obvious, Drake? You're not the only one shagging a lion," Pansy needled, putting her hand back in Ron's ginger locks.

Draco narrowed his eyes at Pansy. There was no way she knew, unless…. "Theo told you."

Pansy smiled and nodded, confirming his suspicions. "Theo told me."

"Oi! If Theo told you, then that's cheating! So, I think that means I won by default!" Ron formulated, pulling Pansy closer to him. 

"You just want me to do that thing," Pansy bantered, making Ginny and Harry both pretend to gag. Draco looked over at Hermione, who seemed content with her prior husband being with Pansy; then it dawned on him, she had known.

Hermione led the way to a loveseat, where they were bound to be squished together like two sardines in love. Draco sat first, pulling Hermione down next to him with his hand gripping her hips. 

"So," Harry began, "when did this happen?" He pointed between the two of them, sipping from his Fire Whiskey with a raised eyebrow.

"Over fifteen years ago," Pansy coughed, taking a sip of her wine. 

Draco really was going to murder Theo and dance on his grave and come up with a more secure password for his journal.

"We reconnected a little bit ago at parent-teacher conference night," Hermione answered as she swirled her own wine before taking a small sip. "Fate just so happened to have ours be concurrent, seeing as our last names are alphabetically together."

"I am sorry I couldn't make that," Ron said, his hand rubbing up and down Pansy's bicep and shoulder. 

"No need to apologize," Hermione waved off. "Team Granger-Weasley forever." Ron and Hermione leaned forward did a funky little secret handshake, then returned into the embrace of their respective lovers. Jealously pooled in Draco's belly, he wanted Hermione on Team Malfoy, fuck the Weasel. 

The small chat continued, before Draco got lost in the hullabaloo of inside jokes. Hermione looked over to the side table, placing her drink down and smiling at a ratty piece of parchment. She picked it up and held it out for the room to see. "I can't believe you still have this, Harry!" She squealed, unfolding it until it was lying across both their laps. Draco's eyebrows furrowed as he stared at it, completely unaware as to why she was so excited about it. She pulled her wand from her purse and tapped it to the parchment. 

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

The page blossomed with ink, swirling until it had the entire Hogwarts castle outlined, each corridor and secret pathway accounted for. Clarity hit Draco like the Hogwarts Express.

"This is how you three managed to get away with so much shite," Draco huffed.

Hermione looked at him and wiggled her eyebrows before winking, the audacity of the witch. 

Draco's eyes skimmed the pages, looking for his son. Was he in bed? He certainly hoped so considering the late hour, but Draco was also aware that he had been out of bed more often than not when he was Scorp’s age. His heart sank a little when he confirmed Scorp was not tucked away in bed, or even in his common room for that matter.

"Oh, shite," Hermione whispered, her hand sliding to cover whatever she had just seen. Draco tried to push her hand aside, but she held firm. He gave her a suspicious look, eyes narrowing as he raised an eyebrow. 

"Whatcha hiding there, Granger?" he asked, attempting to tug the paper from underneath her hand to catch a glimpse. 

"I guarantee you, you do not want to know," she said, her voice dropping as she added, "and Ron shouldn't either." 

Now that caught Draco's attention. "Move your hand, or I might be forced to make a scene," Draco whispered. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Suit yourself." 

There, in an alcove, were Scorp and Rose, their names practically overlapping with each other. Draco tilted his head before asking, "Why are they overlapping? Why are his feet between hers?" 

Hermione patted his cheek, patronizingly. "Well, love, let’s just say that you and Pansy used to be like that on the map quite frequently." 

Draco felt his blood run cold as realization dawned on him. "Are they…"

"Fucking? Potentially, but I'd be willing to bet it's probably him clumsily trying to go down on her, or just snogging." 

"Malfoys are not clumsy with their women," Draco protested, his voice dropping low. "How do we handle this?" 

"What happened to 'Scorp could learn a thing or two about pursuing beautiful, intelligent women?'" 

"This is different, she'll be his stepbrother if…."

Hermione raised her brow. "If what, Mister Malfoy?"

"Uh, nothing," Draco gulped, the ring in his pocket burning against his chest. 

"What would you have done if you'd been told to stop shagging Pansy?" Hermione whispered, raising an eyebrow at him. 

"I would have shagged her even more," Draco replied honestly. 

"Why don't we have them over for dinner? We can try to evaluate the situation?" 

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Ginny asked. "Anything interesting going on with the map?" 

"No, nothing!" Hermione replied, smiling at them. She looked back at Draco, her eyebrows furrowing with worry. "Are you alright, love? You look sick, maybe we should go?"

"Yes, that would be perfect, if you're alright with that," Draco conceded. 

They both stood, Hermione looping her arm through Draco's. "Sorry to leave so soon, Draco's feeling a bit unwell," Hermione announced to everyone. 

"Aww, sorry to hear that, mate," Ron drawled. "Maybe you just need the loo? Those tummy troubles will get you." 

"Uhh," Draco stammered, looking to Hermione. "Alright, I guess?" 

Ron stood, smoothing down his trousers before gesturing to the door. "I'll show you the way." 

Ron and Draco walked down the hallway, shoulder to shoulder until they reached the nook where the loo was situated. 

"Thanks, mate, for showing me where it is," Draco drawled. 

Ron's arm shot out, blocking him from passing into the loo. "Let's get a few things straight first, shall we," Ron maintained. "It was hard being the man she didn't want, even with her being my best friend. I watched for years as she pined for you from afar, while still being the perfect wife and mother."

Draco tried to maintain his cool, as if watching her shine from afar hadn't killed him for the better part of a decade and a half. 

"You once said you wanted her dead," Ron continued, "and if you hurt her, I will make you wish you were." 

Draco scoffed. "Please, as if I'd ever let her slip through my fingers again."

Ron patted his shoulder patronizingly. "Wonderful, I'm glad we've come to an agreement. She's the mother of my child and will always be someone I love. So now that we are on the same page, welcome to the family, Malfoy." 

They nodded at each other, and Ron dropped his arm, turning and walking back to the party where laughter was spilling from the room. Draco shook his head and walked into the loo. He braced his hands on the vanity, staring into the mirror as he took deep breaths. A sharp rap drew him from his spiral, and he cracked open the door. Hermione was leaning against the frame, smiling as she reached for his hand. 

"Come on, let's get you home before you work yourself into a tizzy," she teased. He followed, because it was her, and he'd follow her to the ends of the earth if she asked. 

They walked, arms around each other, to the Floo. Draco took a handful of Floo powder and tossed it in the flames. 

He should have said, "Malfoy Manor," or even, "Hermione's Home," but instead, his impulsivity won out, and he choked out, "Hogwarts Castle." 

Hermione looked at him, panic in her eyes as they flew through the system, green blazing around them until they spat out into the Hogwarts Floo chamber room. Draco's arm slipped from Hermione's waist as he started running, determined to find Scorpius like a man possessed. 

"Draco Lucius, you get back here!" Hermione whisper-yelled as she chased after him. It was nice for her to be the one chasing him for once, even though the circumstances would lead to him getting a solid lecture about teenage boundaries later. 

He took the stairs two at a time before turning towards the alcove Rose and Scorp had been in earlier. Hermione was still chasing after him, he could feel her magic trying to pull him back, slow him down, so she could catch up to him. As he reached the alcove, a hex hit him, locking his legs so he fell forward. 

Hermione was seething. "Draco what is your plan? You can't just run into them having…." She trailed off, covering her hand as she gulped down her words. 

"They don't even have to see me," Draco mumbled into the stone floor. "Just a little tug to the curtain will scare them." 

She let out a sigh and unbound his legs. "Fine, but we do this together and we don't let them see us." Hermione cast a disillusionment charm over them both and helped him stand, their hands remaining entwined as they approached the alcove. 

Laughter.

That was the sound they heard. 

"That is not the Scorpius constellation," Rose giggled. "Look, it’s part of Ursa Major!" 

"My dad always said it was Scorpius and so it must be!" Scorp insisted. 

Draco and Hermione pulled back the curtain ever so slightly to peek in. There were Scorp and Rose, with Rose standing in front of Scorp with his arms around her taking turns looking through a telescope. 

"Well, your dad is wrong," Rose replied. 

"You're such a swot just like mum, I mean just like your mum," Scorp chuckled. 

Rose turned to look at him and squeezed his forearm. "If you want, I'm sure she'd let you call her mum… I know you must miss your mum a lot."

Scorp nodded, Draco's chest tightening as he watched their exchange. He felt Hermione stiffen besides him. 

Scorp let out a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. "I mean, I was pretty young when she passed, like four-ish, but I miss her, and I guess the idea of her? My dad is the best, he's always been there for me, but… I don't know how to describe it. It's been nice having your mum around." 

"Well, I'm happy to share her," Rose offered before turning back to the telescope. Draco squeezed Hermione's waist and let the curtain fall closed as he tugged her down the hallway towards the Floo. As they rounded the corner, Hermione threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. 

"Our kids are good people," she whispered before pulling back, her eyes shiny with unfallen tears. "They might be snogging, or shagging, or what have you, but their friendship is a beautiful thing, Draco." 

"They are," Draco said, lifting a hand to gently hold Hermione's cheek.

"Dad?" Scorp asked into the corridor.

"No one's there, Scorp," Rose whispered, a jolt of relief shooting through Draco as he remembered he was still disillusioned, or something akin to disillusioned because he could certainly see Hermione. 

"I could have sworn I heard his voice," Scorp insisted, his hand entwined with Rose's as they continued down the corridor. 

"Your dad's voice is practically your conscious," Rose teased back, pressing a kiss to Scorp's cheek. Scorp kissed her back, then tugged her further down the corridor out of view. Hermione wrapped an arm around Draco, tugging him the opposite direction to the Floo. She threw a handful of powder into the furnace and said, "Hermione Granger's flat," before pulling them both through. 

"Maybe we should let them go public first before we do," Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest and letting out a sigh. "That way they aren't accused of some freaky-deaky inbreeding situation." 

Draco crossed the room and sat in what he had deemed his chair, the one next to Crookshank's, resting his elbows on his knees and templing his fingers. "I mean, technically the Weasley's are related to us." 

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're an insufferable prat sometimes, you know." 

"Well, if you'd let me finish, you also would have heard me say, 'but I think you're right.'"

Hermione smiled and plopped into his lap, ruffling his hair. "Of course, I am." 

"Look who's being an insufferable swot now," Draco questioned, grabbing her sides to tickle her. She folded in on herself, practically falling off his lap to escape his tickle attack. 

"Come on, Granger," Draco taunted. "Please tell me about how you are always right." 

"I think the better question is when have I ever been wrong," Hermione managed to get out amongst squeaks from his fingers ghosting across her skin.

"You were wrong once, devastatingly so, when you assumed I wouldn't find you at the soonest chance I had," Draco said, pulling her into his chest, her head settling under his chin as he just held her. 

Hermione looked up at him, both eyebrows up in surprise. "Go on."

"Um, do you mind if we actually continue this conversation at my place?" He asked. She looked at him curiously, bordering on suspicious. "Alright, be cryptic, but I'll bite." They stood and he pulled her through the Floo to his room at the manor. 

He led them to his bed, reaching for the drawer of his nightstand table and pulled out the ring he'd bought all those years ago, holding it between their faces. "I bought this ring last time we were here. It's always been for you, and as soon as we're both comfortable with the idea, I'd like to propose to you. Whether it be today, or next week, or years from now, this ring will always be for you."

Hermione gently took it from him, holding it up to her eyes as she examined it. "Is this the one from the shop window?"

Draco nodded. "Yes, although if your preferences have changed, I'm happy to get you a different one." 

Hermione slipped it onto her finger, rotating her hand so the morning sun caught the diamond, sending shimmering rainbows across the surfaces in the room. "You're not getting this back," she replied, slipping her arm back around his middle and nuzzling close. 

"So, you'll marry me?" He asked into her hair, willing to suffocate as long as she said yes. 

"My answer would have always been yes," Hermione said. "It's just a question of when I stop disillusioning the ring. I need to talk to Rose first, and you need to tell Scorp."

"Of course, love," Draco smiled, tilting her head so he could give her a kiss. "Or we could tell them together?" He offered.

Hermione bit her bottom lip, mulling the idea over. "Why don't we take them to the Three Broomsticks for breakfast on Sunday? Tell them then?"

Draco nodded, running a hand through his hair. "I'll make sure to bring extra sugar for Rose." 

Draco and Hermione were already sitting in booth when Rose and Scorp came walking into the Three Broomsticks, the teens whispering to each other as they approached the table. They slid in across, and Rose immediately grabbed a biscuit Draco had brought along. 

"How are you both?" Hermione asked, pushing the biscuits Scorp's direction. 

"Are we in trouble?" Rose broke. "I know I, well we, probably should have told you both sooner, but I just wasn't ready to tell you." 

"Tell me what?" Hermione asked, her eyebrows furrowed adorably. 

"Well, that we're dating!" Rose blurted, gesturing between her and Scorp with her hand. 

Hermione's head fell back as she laughed. "No, darling, you're not in trouble, and definitely not in trouble for that. I already knew." 

Scorp and Rose's mouths fell open. Scorp then scoffed, "Those portraits are all such snitches." 

"It wasn't the portraits," Draco gently corrected.

"Wait, you knew, too?" Scorp asked, bewildered.

"Yes, you can thank that Marauder's Map that Albus forgot at home, it outed you." 

Rose smirked deviously. "Well, while we're talking about the map, is there something you two would like to tell us?" 

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "How long have you known?"

"Long enough to know that you weren't fooling either of us in Malta," Rose replied, smoothing the napkin in front of her out with her hands. 

"When's the wedding?" Scorp asked, slinging an arm around Rose. He saw Draco's eye twitch subtly. "What, if you know then I'm definitely going to be a gentleman and hold my girl, dad."

"No wedding for a while," Hermione said. "We want to adjust to us all being a family first." 

"What did dad think?" Rose asked, sniggering as she popped a handful of Bertie Bots in her mouth. "Did he threaten to kill Draco?" 

"In not so many words," Draco sighed, reaching to hold Hermione's hand. 

"Well, now that the cat is out of the bag all around," Scorp began. "What's for breakfast? Or did you think your old news was sufficient sustenance?" 

Hermione sniggered. "He really is your child."

"I'm not sure that's necessarily a good thing," Draco grimaced, looking over the menu. 

"At least I haven't dropped the classic 'My father will hear about this.'" Scorp drawled, making sure his nose was pointed in the air. 

"Yet," Draco said, flipping over the menu. "You still have a little bit at Hogwarts, just you wait." 

Malfoy Manor’s Garden had been lined with enough chairs to seat their friends and families. Draco was nervous as could be, his hands clammy with anticipation. 

His son was getting married.

Hermione slipped into their room, her hair perfectly coiffed with tendrils of curls wisped perfectly. "Are you alright darling?" 

"No," he replied, rubbing his hands on his pants before pulling her into a hug. "I just can't believe this is finally happening." 

"They've loved each other for years," Hermione assured him, smoothing back his hair. "They're a perfect match." She looked him over. "Are you more stressed about their wedding or that this was the last milestone before us publicly announcing our own engagement."

Draco plopped onto the bed, resting his elbows on his knees. "I guess a little bit of both, change is always hard, even when it's good." He flexed his hands in front of him, looking at his naked wedding finger. The clock chimed, signaling it was time. He stood and wiped off the invisible dust from his trousers, taking Hermione's hand in his, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. 

"Come on love, let's go to a wedding." 

They walked the halls together, Draco leading Scorp out from his groom’s room, followed by Ron and Hermione walking Rose down the aisle together. Astoria's portrait had been placed in the front row where she looked alive as ever. Draco sat next to her; Hermione and Ron filling in the next seats as their children grasped each other's hands. Professor Flitwick was beaming as he performed their soul binding ceremony. 

"Do you, Rose and Scorpius, promise to love each other in this life, and all that come after?" 

Rose and Scorp smiled at each other, before saying in tandem. "We solemnly swear it."