June 2009

"Liam, please tell her that it's completely unnecessary for her to move out."

"Draco," Dr. Milligan chided, although with a grin. "It's 'Dr. Milligan' when we're on the clock, you know that."

Draco scowled. "How much longer until the session is over?"

"Twenty minutes. Then we can chat…over tea."

"Strong tea,"

Dr. Milligan chuckled. Strong tea indeed. He'd had to expand his liquor drawer because of his favorite client, and quite frankly, he was surprised at Draco's very high tolerance. He looked over at Hermione who was rolling her eyes. Her engagement ring hung beautifully on her chain before being obscured by a crossing of her arms.

"We've already discussed this, Draco." Hermione said to him. "I was only going to stay with you until I could find my own place."

"I know. And to use your favorite word, it's ridiculous." Draco enunciated clearly. He then smirked at her, taking her hand in his and stroking it gently with his thumb. "You're only going to spend your nights with me anyway."

Hermione tried her best not to blush furiously. Despite moving back into her old home with her husband in March, she had slept in one of the spare bedrooms. That arrangement lasted until May. In the middle of that month she'd accidentally fallen asleep in what was once theirs-turned-his bedroom. His arms had proven to be quite comfortable as she lay against him, Draco holding a book he was reading out loud for both of them. Since then they both had slept in the same bed and only slept. That particular arrangement lasted until the beginning of the current month. Draco's birthday, to be exact. And no matter how much she didn't want to, Hermione had to admit that that was yet another thing she had missed about their marriage.

"We're supposed to be taking this slow. And okay, we've become a bit of a failure at that as of late," Hermione added quickly at the look Draco was giving her. "But I still want to do this."

Draco groaned and then subsequently sighed. "Alright, alright. But one-year leases only."

"Deal,"

"At a reasonable distance away from me,"

"Fine,"

"With no male tenants as your neighbors,"

"How the hell am I supposed to control that?"

"Oh, you just leave that bit to me."

Hermione huffed. "Typical,"

"So," Dr. Milligan interrupted loudly. "Have you two decided how the dynamics of your relationship will work once you're not living in the same house?"

Hermione shot Draco one last look before answering. "It'll be exactly the same. Just modified a bit. Dinners outside instead of in-"

"I won't wake up in the morning in a deathly choke hold-" Draco laughed as she playfully hit him.

"He'll go out with his friends and I'll..." She paused, frowning shortly after. Draco's laugh died immediately and he held her hand comfortingly before turning his attention to Dr. Milligan.

"Her friends haven't exactly come to terms yet."

"Harry has." Hermione said. "And Ginny, sort of. As for the rest of them, I can't really blame them, can I? They're Ron's family."

"How is Ron doing?" Dr. Milligan asked. Hermione sighed.

"From what Ginny tells me, not so good. We were supposed to get married this month."

June 2010

"So, how was the honeymoon?"

Hermione grinned. "Fantastic,"

"Exhausting, –ow!"

Draco massaged his pinched arm and stared at his wife's utterly red face. He was confused at first, but then he slyly smirked. "I wasn't talking about that. We did go sightseeing, you know. But...yes, that was equally exhausting."

Hermione was redder than red now and Dr. Milligan did the polite thing by pretending to be interested in his cuticles.

The wedding had been small, but bigger by comparison to the tiny chapel they had found in the middle of the night six years ago. They got married in the private gardens of Iverson Square Park. With the exception of the occasional camera flash of Daily Prophet and other newspaper photographers, it was just the quiet, intimate ceremony they had wanted as they said their vows and their hearts linked once again under a large, beautifully decorated gazebo.

The guests were few, but that was to be expected. Hermione's parents were there, naturally, and Cressida, her Ministry colleague. Voldemort would have sooner showed up than any of the Weasley's, so she wasn't sad about it albeit a little lonely without her closest friends. Harry had wanted to be there to support her, but with reporters sure to be there and not wanting Ron to hate him, it was a no go. As for Draco's side, despite her protestations, Narcissa had actually turned up. This time last year she had come back from the south of France where she was every year to avoid the cool autumns and frigid winters. It went without saying that she was more than surprised that her son was dating again, but more so that he was dating his ex-wife. Their reunion did not bode well with the blonde-haired woman, and Draco had stood back in surprise as Hermione and his mother went at it when they first saw each other again. "You couldn't have thought to mention you were back together with her in a single letter?!" And yet despite hating Hermione, she loved her son, and so yes, she was at the wedding and looking as regal and elegant as ever. Had Pansy and Blaise not been away on holiday (or so they said), they would have been there as well. However, their presence would have shocked Hermione far less than Astoria's, linked arm-in-arm with her future second husband.

No reception had been planned on Draco and Hermione's part, but Narcissa had taken it upon herself to plan one without their foreknowledge. As they all prepared to leave, Hermione had taken one last look at the scenery. And that's when she had seen it. A wisp of red hair and a bit of black appearing in the air, only to disappear again as though it was never there. Hermione smiled. She wasn't sure where they were now, but she mouthed a thank you before disapparating with Draco.

November 2010

Dr. Milligan had been in his office for no more than ten minutes when he heard hard footsteps clamoring down the hallway. He didn't need to look up to know who that gait belonged to and merely smiled when her shout hit his ears.

"Draco is driving me crazy!"

Dr. Milligan laughed and turned to her. "When doesn't he?"

Hermione let out a frustrated sigh and plopped herself down on the couch. "I don't mean crazy like angry, I mean crazy like crazy. Ever since I got pregnant he's been so...unbearable. He whines and complains every morning when I leave for work. When I'm home every minute he's at my side asking, 'Do you need anything?' 'Are you sure you don't want anything?' 'Are you really, really sure you don't want anything?' He won't let me do anything around the house –and to make sure I don't, he got his old house elf back for the duration of my pregnancy!"

"Okay, so he's doing a lot, but Hermione, you know it's only because Draco cares about you. He just wants you to be okay. No worries, no stress."

"I know, and in hindsight it's very sweet, but-"

"And," Dr. Milligan interrupted. "Despite what he says, he still thinks that the miscarriage from your 'first' marriage was his fault."

Hermione frowned. Yes, she knew that too. She sighed then and soon felt Dr. Milligan's hand cover her own.

"Let him have this one."

March 2011

"Absolutely not!"

"Oh, come on, what's wrong with it? It's far better than Cassiopeia."

"I agree, but Ara just sounds so...painful to say. Ah-ra... I'm on the verge of retching just saying it."

"Are you sure it's not just because you're pregnant?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and finally appealed to Dr. Milligan who had been desperately holding in his laughter for the better part of five minutes.

"Let me guess, baby name trouble?"

"Please tell him that Ara is a horrible name."

"Please tell her that it's Ara or Cassiopeia."

"And why is it that those two names are the only options?"

"Family on my mother's side are always, for the most part, named after constellations. I want to keep up with the tradition and those two are the only ones suitable for a girl."

Dr. Milligan's eyes lit up. "So you're having a girl then?"

"We don't know." Hermione answered him. "We want to be surprised."

"Ah, I see. So what are the boy name options?"

"Don't need them." Draco smiled. "We're having a girl. I'm a thousand percent sure about it."

Dr. Milligan chuckled. "And if it's a boy?"

Hermione grinned. "Then he owes me a three-day getaway in Miami, Florida at a muggle resort."

Dr. Milligan finally let out that laugh he had been holding in from the moment they had walked into his office. "Oh, I hope it's a boy."

June 2011

Dr. Milligan stood at a long table picking at hors d'oeuvres while his wife was off to the side chatting with a particularly brightly-dressed witch. Luna Scamander, he believed her name was. Although his colleagues would have probably frowned at his "unprofessional behavior" (that whole jazz about not fraternizing with your clients), he didn't feel a shred of guilt about accepting Draco and Hermione's baby shower invitation when they had asked. They were the most interesting clients he had ever had, and he couldn't deny, especially in terms of Draco, that they had quickly become very good friends

"So, you must be the infamous Dr. Milligan." A petite redheaded woman said with a small smile on her face. He recognized her instantly as Ginny Potter, current Quiditch news reporter for the Daily Prophet after retiring from the Hollyhead Harpies last year. She was sporting a baby bump nearly as large as Hermione.

"And you're Ginny Potter." He grinned broadly as he shook her hand. "My children are going to have a field day when I tell them I met you."

Ginny's eyes lighted up. "Fans of the team, are they? Tell you what, I'll send some memorabilia with Hermione next time she sees you."

"Oh, that would be great! Thank you!"

"No, thank you." Ginny insisted. She briefly turned her attention away from him and Dr. Milligan followed her eyes. They had settled on Draco who was helping Hermione to get out of her chair. She looked absolutely infuriated with the four-legged device, while he was the happiest anyone had ever seen him. Once she was up on her feet Hermione laughed. Draco took her hand then, and they began walking towards the second of three hors d'oeuvre tables.

Ginny sighed. "Don't get me wrong, Dr. Milligan. I love my brother. And yes, sometimes I do regret what happened and wished Hermione had married him. But when I look at her and Malfoy together… There's just a happiness there that I can't explain. It's…it's different."

Dr. Milligan nodded. Although he had never seen Hermione and Ron together he just couldn't imagine her being as happy with anyone other than Draco. His eyes caught them again; this time they were talking to Neville Longbottom. The good doctor had to choke back a laugh when he realized that Draco obviously didn't want to, but Hermione was clutching his hand so tightly that the only way to get out of her grip would be to cut the hand off.

"Your brother doesn't know you're here, does he?"

"Oh, he does." Ginny replied. "He didn't even try to talk me out of coming. No fits. No cold stares. I can't decide if that's a good or bad thing."

Dr. Milligan was confused. "Why would that be bad?"

"Because my brother's stubborn. He doesn't just concede like that. He fights tooth and nail about and for everything. I'm worried about him."

Dr. Milligan was quiet for a while. Before Mrs. Potter took this as a sign that the conversation had ended, he dug into the inside of his suit jacket pocket and handed her a small business card. "Tell him to come see me sometime."

Ginny looked at him strangely as she took the card. "I thought you only did marriage counseling?"

"I do. But your brother seems to be fighting with someone just the same."

Ginny furrowed his brow. "That can't be. He and Hermione haven't spoken since-"

"Not with Hermione," Dr. Milligan interrupted. "With himself."

January 2012

"So, how was Miami?" Dr. Milligan asked with a taunting smirk. Hermione was wearing a smirk of her own while her husband was grumbling bitterly with his arms crossed over his chest.

Draco huffed before stubbornly mumbling, "It was nice."

August 2012

"Murder me, Liam." Draco said as he plopped himself down on the couch. Dr. Milligan stared at him with a raised brow before pulling out the two short glasses and the bottle of firewhiskey he reserved for when Draco called him "Liam."

"What's crawled up your arse and died this time?"

Draco scowled at him and took the alcoholic beverage from his friend's hand. "My mother's coming to visit."

"So? She's visited before."

"Yes, for dinner or afternoon tea. She's coming to visit and stay for a full week. A week! She only puts up with Hermione because she knows how much she means to me, but that doesn't mean she'll completely behave."

"Draco, I doubt it'll be a repeat of Christmas."

He shivered. Merlin, he hoped not. Draco had gone to put Scorpius to bed and left Hermione to begin putting decorations onto the tree. By the time he'd come back to the living room, his wife and his mother were both red in the face and yelling at each other. Draco had no doubt that his mother had started it, especially after she had gracefully dismissed herself from the room, grumbling about mudbloods and their muggle-loving ways.

Dr. Milligan topped off his and Draco's glasses. "It'll be fine."

"You don't know my mother."

"No, but I do know Hermione. She can handle anything that comes her way."

"I know that, but-"

"If you know, then no butts." Dr. Milligan smiled. Draco wanted to argue, but knew he would be shut down at every turn. And rightly so. Eventually he sighed and nodded.

"Alright, go on."

Dr. Milligan furrowed his brow. "Go on, what?"

"Say what the counselor in you is dying to say."

"I'd have to charge you." He chuckled. Draco smirked.

"Take it out of the bet money I owe you."

"Fair enough." Dr. Milligan agreed as he set his drink down. "You need to stop doubting your wife when things like this pop up. Remember that it was your doubts that helped encourage her to want a divorce in the first place. She's a strong woman and married you knowing all the problems you would face."

Draco nodded and tossed back the rest of his drink. "Okay. I'll work on it. Now, how much of that bet did your words of wisdom knock off?"

Dr. Milligan paused for a moment, then grinned. "About a quarter of it."

"Huh, that all? Let's talk a little more then, shall we? Hermione's already throwing a fit about baby names for our second kid."

December 2012

Dr. Milligan stared at Draco in surprise as he walked in sporting a fresh black eye and a couple other bruises on his face and hands. If he looked this bad from what could be seen, under his clothes must've been some sight.

"Merlin, what happened to you?"

"Ron," Hermione answered with a frown. Although she, Harry, and Ginny were on good terms now and the rest of the Weasley family weren't giving her the cold shoulder anymore, today had been the first time she'd seen Ron since that evening back at the Burrow. When he had determined that they needed space, he had meant it.

"We wanted to go to Diagon Alley before coming here so that's what we did. Just before leaving we saw him."

"And the blighter walked right up and punched me!" Draco scowled mercilessly. "He's lucky Hermione was there or else he would've gotten more than a right hook to the jaw."

Quite frankly Draco was lucky too. After giving Ron a good one, the redhead was right back on him. Hermione was certain that her ex-fiancé wouldn't have stopped had he not seen her pull out her wand. That and finally noticing that she was in "delicate condition" and shouldn't be that close to a fight.

"I'm glad you held back, Draco."

Draco looked at his wife, then down at her five months along stomach, and sighed. "You're worth more than a stupid fight. Either that or I've become ridiculously soft."

Hermione laughed and tiptoed to kiss him on the forehead. Her husband may have been many things, but he was anything but soft.

May 2013

"Liam, do you think I could get a shorter Azkaban sentence since I'm a war heroine?"

Needless to say that Hermione's question had startled Dr. Milligan. He had dropped the folders he was carrying and left them on the floor as he stared at her quizzically. "Come again?"

"I'm this close to committing murder." Hermione explained as she raised two almost touching fingers together. "The only reason I haven't done it yet is because Draco loves that woman he calls mother."

"Oh," Dr. Milligan answered, an amused grin filling his features. He chuckled and bent down to pick up his fallen folders as Hermione went over to help. "What happened this time?"

"Her mouth, what else?" She grumbled. "Draco went to get Scorpius ready while I went to Orion's room. I knew Narcissa was in the house because she insists on having breakfast with us on Friday mornings, but I didn't expect to find her in our son's room. So I stopped, completely surprised, and stood in the doorway. To be honest, the sight actually looked kind of sweet. Orion was awake and Narcissa was holding him. Then she had the audacity to say that he was a handsome little boy for a halfbood. Can you believe that?! Then she went on to say that it was a shame that his mother, that I was a 'mudblood.' Liam, I could've hexed her right then and there if she wasn't holding my son."

"Merlin, I'm sorry to hear that." Dr. Milligan frowned. All of the folders were in his hands now and he and Hermione were back on their feet. "Did you tell Draco?"

"No, I didn't. He was in such a good mood this morning that I didn't want to ruin it. I just… I don't know what to do about her. I'm not worried about Orion; he's only a month old. But Scorpius? He's almost two and he's a sponge! I'm dreading the day he asks me what a 'mudblood' is and why his grandmother keeps calling me one. I don't want my children exposed to what Draco was."

"Has Draco talked to his mother about her behavior?"

"Countless times!" Hermione threw her hands in the air. "But I finally see where he gets his stubbornness from. As horrible as it is for me to say, I'm just thankful Draco's father is rotting away in Azkaban. I don't think I could take both of them slewing such comments around my family. What if…" Her words trailed off and her face became sad. "What if her words sink in? What if my kids start to believe-?"

"They won't." Dr. Milligan said sternly. "You and Draco are their parents, not Narcissa. They'll grow up loving everyone and everything. And perhaps become a bit cynical with a love of firewhiskey later in life thanks to your husband."

Hermione laughed. Luckily he limited himself to one short glass after dinner. She did the same with wine, although two was quite the norm whenever Narcissa was present.

September 2013

Dr. Milligan often hummed to himself when he was in a good mood. He'd seen six clients today, all who had made progress within their marriages including one teary-eyed breakthrough. Draco passed by earlier on his way to meet Hermione at Eileen's Tea and Pastries and invited him and his wife to dinner at the house. He had accepted and was now setting up his desk in order so that he could head home, shower, change clothes, and let his wife do the honors of apparating them to the Malfoy residence.

Just as he had finally set aside the last folder, there was a knock on his door. Dr. Milligan looked up, surprised at the face that seemed unsure about what he was doing there.

"Mr. Weasley,"

Ron shuffled his feet uneasily. "You can call me Ron."

"Alright then, Ron. What can I do for you?"

Ron took the opportunity to sit on the sofa in the room and anxiously rubbed his hands on his thighs. "My sister gave me your card a really long time ago. I never once thought about using it until now."

"What made you?"

"My girlfriend,"

Dr. Milligan nodded. A few months ago Hermione had told him that Ginny said her brother had begun seeing someone. She had been so happy and relieved to hear that he had moved on. She really wanted the best for him and this proved that things were going in the right direction. Though, as he stared at the uncertain face of the man before him, things were most certainly not going that well.

"What about her?"

Ron sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I've been seeing her for a while now. I love her, I really do, but she doesn't think so. She thinks that I'm still stuck on Hermione and what happened between us after all this time."

"Are you?"

"…I'll never stop loving her, much like she never stopped with Malfoy. It's not enough to want to be with her again, although a couple punches to the git's face last year might say otherwise."

Dr. Milligan remembered that. It certainly had looked like more than a "couple" punches. "If you don't want Hermione back, then what do you think your girlfriend is sensing from you that she doesn't think you're fully committed?"

"That's something for you to ask her." Ron said with a slight chuckle. He had resumed rubbing his hands along his thighs again and stared at the floor. "But there is one thing that still bothers me." He looked up then, his face stricken in pain as he spoke his next bit. "It's just…Malfoy did the same exact thing that I did, and yet she's still with him. She fully accepted the fact that he purposefully broke us up and it's just…okay. How is it okay?"

"That's something to ask her." Dr. Milligan repeated Ron's words. "But from someone who's gotten to know her pretty well, I'd say it's because she loved him first. And your first love is…well, it's always the strongest. She would have been quite lost without him, and vice versa. Of that, I'm positive. And the only way for you to be okay, is to come to terms with the fact that Hermione's happy."

"Oh, I have come to terms with that. I just hate the fact that it's Malfoy who's making her happy."

Dr. Milligan grinned. "Draco hated the same thing about you."

Ron smiled. "Stupid git."

"Yeah, he is. But he's a git who has someone to give a good life to. You have someone in your life to make happy too, Ron." Dr. Milligan continued. "Don't give her a reason to doubt you."

October 2015

"Oh, thank Merlin someone other than Draco's side of the world is here." Hermione said with relief washing over her face as she opened the front door. Dr. Milligan stared at her with a brow cocked as his wife, Marlena, laughed and noticed the half empty wine glass in the hostess' hand.

"Who's here that's got you digging into that wine bottle so early?" Marlena asked as she entered the house.

"In addition Draco's dreadful mother, Pansy and Blaise are here as well as Astoria and Niles. I can't believe that Astoria is the one that I actually like. What on earth has the world come to?"

"The end," Dr. Milligan answered as he laughed along with his wife. They followed Hermione into the tea room where they'd all be waiting until the rest of the dinner guests arrived. It's how it always went once a month when the Malfoys held a dinner with their family and closest friends. Dr. Milligan and his wife had been coming to these for the past year when they began and they always turned out quite…interesting, to say the least.

There was the one time when Narcissa had said an awful comment about squibs when she had no idea that Dr. Milligan was one. There was a night when Ginny and Pansy had nearly cursed each other to bits right at the dinner table after a crass comment about Hermione leaving her brother for Draco being an "excellent decision on the mudblood's part." There'd also been a rather amusing dinner when Blaise had gotten drunk enough to divulge the secret that Draco had been particularly "drooling" over Hermione when he had seen her at the school's Yule Ball and harbored a crush ever since.

Despite the possible ups and downs each dinner could hold, everyone always came back. Whether it was for the purpose of stirring up trouble or merely to witness said trouble, Dr. Milligan wasn't sure. What he was sure of, however, was that he'd be going back home with a story for him and wife to laugh over.

"Where are the children?" Narcissa asked her son. If there was one thing Dr. Milligan could commend the woman on was the fact that she always saw to her grandchildren's needs, however awkward her ways were.

"Scorpius and Orion are with Hermione's parents for the weekend." Draco replied as he handed Dr. Milligan and Marlena drinks. "And Arie's upstairs sleeping."

"Ara," Narcissa corrected. "'Arie' sounds so childish."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "She's an infant. And Draco and I will call her whatever we please."

"Oh," Blaise grinned broadly. "The claws are coming out early tonight."

"Watch it, Zabini." Draco warned. Blaise said nothing more but continued to smile and tossed back what might have been his second or third shot –on an empty stomach no less. The doorbell rang yet again and Hermione was off to answer it. Pansy scoffed.

"Draco, why don't you just get a house elf?"

"Hermione hates the idea of house elves. You know this."

"Of course she does." Narcissa drawled. "Soon enough she'll have you and the children living in a muggle town where they'll persecute you at the first sign of Scorpius' accidental magic."

"Mother,"

"Oh relax. Your mudblood wife didn't hear me."

"Mother, what did I say about calling her-?"

"Do you want anything to drink?" Came Hermione's voice as she neared with Harry and Ginny in tow.

"No, I'm okay." Ginny answered. "You, Harry?"

"I'm fine. Just starving."

"Looks like we can head straight to the dining room then." Draco announced from inside the room. He led the large group out of the tea room just as Hermione, Harry, and Ginny made it to the door. Dr. Milligan and Marlena greeted the Potters happily and soon his wife and Ginny were talking animatedly about the latest thing the redhead had written in the Daily Prophet Quiditch news section. He, on the other hand, stayed close to the rear of the group as he watched the others. Despite not being on the clock, the counselor in him was always ever curious to the behaviors of others.

He noted Narcissa's haughty disposition, always present no matter the time of day. Pansy and Blaise were always the ones to get sloshed first and seemed to be the pair who came to these things to see a good show. Ginny was the fiery one –quick to defend Hermione whenever anyone got out of line and not afraid to draw her wand if it became necessary. Harry often tried to play mediator, not to mention to calm down his hot-tempered wife. Draco tried his hardest to reign in his mother when, to use Blaise's words, her "claws" came out. Hermione, and quite impressively, always fought back in a calm, even tone to make most Slytherins (including the ones at the dinner table) very proud. Marlena and himself always sat back and watched so long as no questions were directed at them. It was definitely what one would call a dinner and a show.

"How's your niece doing?" Dr. Milligan heard Hermione ask Ginny.

"Oh, she's lovely. Despite being two months old Ron's still terrified he's going to drop her."

Hermione laughed. "Draco was the same way. He'll get used to it."

"That's what Evelyn and I keep telling him. Also, he um…knows about Arie. Since she and Rose are basically the same age, he figured when they're a bit older they could…you know…have playdates."

"Seriously?"

Ginny nodded. "I was just as shocked as you, believe me. And don't worry, I made sure he wasn't drinking when he'd said it. So…what should I tell him?"

"Tell him…that it'd be nice."

September 2022

Dr. Milligan sat at a booth at Eileen's Tea and Pastries and sipping on tea when his lunch guests walked in. Since ending their counseling sessions years ago, he still saw Draco and Hermione pretty often whether it was for lunch during the week, dinners in the evening, or a night at the pub with Draco as his drinking buddy. As his companions walked in, he took note of Draco's sorrowful disposition and Hermione's quite humorous one.

"What's wrong with him?"

Hermione smiled broadly as she sat down and Draco sat down next to her. "We were on a Floo call with Scorpius before we came here."

"Is he alright?"

Draco finally looked at Dr. Milligan. "My son… My son is a… He's a…"

Hermione laughed as she rubbed her husband's back. "Here, let me help you with that. Say it with me now. Gry-ffin-dor."

Draco shivered as Dr. Milligan laughed loudly. "Is that all? Merlin, I thought someone died."

"No, no one died." Hermione continued to giggle. "Draco's just being, well, him. He simply fails to realize that this is good for Scorpius. He would've known no one in Slytherin House, while in Gryffindor there's Albus in his sixth year to show him the ropes. Not to mention he'll be with Lily who's his best friend!"

"Oh, I bet Harry and Ginny are happy to know that she got sorted into Gryffindor too." Dr. Milligan said brightly.

"They're ecstatic."

"Well, of course they're ecstatic." Draco grumbled. "The whole family is a horde of Gryffindors."

Hermione was laughing yet again and she kissed her husband on the forehead. "It's alright, grumpy. We've still got two more children to go."

September 2024

Evening Liam,

Draco and I are having a wonderful time in Paris, thanks for asking! I had to do something to take his mind off the fact that Orion got sorted into Gryffindor like his brother. Just as before, I find it absolutely hilarious while he's pouting like a baby. Did I also neglect to mention that Narcissa's cursing up an unladylike storm because of it as well? It's rather adorable on Draco, but on Narcissa, not so much.

Unfortunately, we got word today that Orion already has detention. However, I can't help but feel a bit proud for the reason why. Apparently, a couple Slytherins were making fun of a fellow First-Year on the fact that her father is a squib. A fight ensued and now he and the two boys he was fighting with are assigned to trophy-shining duty. But as for the reason why I'm mentioning it, do you know who the First-Year was?

Irina Milligan.

I know you were worried about her going off to school, but I think with my son around she'll have no problems.

Hermione

September 2026

"A round for the whole pub!" Draco shouted merrily. Dr. Milligan stared at him in surprise as he was presented with his own shot of firewhiskey. "Cheers!"

His glass was clinked with Draco's and the blonde chugged his, soon after calling for another.

"You're in a pleasant mood. What's got you so happy?"

"I know you're not supposed to pick favorites with your kids, but Arie sure does take the prize right about now." Draco grinned. "My beautiful little girl who looks everything like her mother was sorted into Slytherin today."

"Oh really now?" Dr. Milligan replied with a true look of surprise. "Here I was thinking that the Malfoy family line was turning into Gryffindors."

"I was thinking it too, I've got to admit. But my sweet Arie…she didn't let daddy down. Thank Merlin."

Dr. Milligan shook his head at him and politely asked the bartender for a refill. "How's Hermione taking the news?"

"Fretting beyond measure."

"She of all people should know that being a Slytherin isn't terrible. She did marry one after all."

"Oh, that's not why she's upset. Aside from the fact that Arie and Rose didn't get sorted into the same House, Astoria's kids got sorted into Slytherin too. And you can't forget that Pansy and Blaise's son is there as well."

"Ah," Dr. Milligan nodded. "Yes, that makes sense now. I can imagine what Hermione must be thinking. Arie, Quintin and Yvette, and Lincoln all become even closer friends and spend the summer weekends at your house playing with snakes and other reptiles in the backyard."

"And you mustn't forget that they'd mess around with Dark Arts books in their spare time and test out spells on defenseless animals." Draco chuckled. "My wife's imagination is ridiculous and equally hilarious."

"So, what were you doing with your friends when you were eleven?"

"…Feeding petrified mice to my pet snake." Draco mumbled.

June 2032

When the Malfoys threw a celebration it was always momentous, but when both they and the Potters got together for a party? It was bigger than one could imagine. Dr. Milligan and his wife were greeted with familiar faces as they entered Magical Moments Dining Hall located just outside of London.

Both families had come to the agreement that if Draco and Hermione paid for the venue (because, of course, Draco would insist that they –that he –did anyway), Harry and Ginny would decorate. Scorpius and Lily had wanted to help, naturally, but neither sets of parents allowed them to do a single thing. And so, they were just as surprised and happy to see such a grand gathering.

Dr. Milligan smiled as he looked at the beautifully done banner that hung from one end of the room to the other: Congratulations Scorpius and Lily!

If anyone had said that the child of Harry Potter would be getting married to the child of Draco Malfoy surely that person would've been committed. Quite frankly, Dr. Milligan hadn't believed it himself until he and his wife had gotten the official invitation to the party. He chuckled as he surveyed his surroundings as he often did.

This time around the gathering was the oddest hodgepodge he'd yet to see. There were the regulars he was accustomed to seeing from the monthly Malfoy dinner parties such as Blaise and Pansy who were standing next to the bar and toasting early with their first (or Dr. Milligan hoped was their first) drinks of the night. Narcissa was tutting every now and again and rearranging decorations that she thought were inappropriately done. Ginny was watching the woman with anger in her eyes while Harry was doing his best to keep his wife from saying or doing something that she'd regret. He left it up to Draco to deal with his mother who complied, but immediately went back to what she had been doing while he was otherwise preoccupied. Hermione was with Lily and Luna as they talked and laughed, soon joined by Astoria with whom the mother of the groom clinked glasses with and smiled.

Dr. Milligan still thought that Hermione and Astoria's friendship was unfathomable, but somehow very real. His eyes then gravitated to Astoria's husband, Niles, who was with his son, Quintin, Blaise's son Lincoln, as well as Scorpius over by the table full of appetizers. Orion was trying his hardest to get Irina to dance, even going as far as enlisting Hugo, Ron's fourteen-year-old son, to persuade the bashful witch. Dr. Milligan smiled at his daughter who blushed once she realized he was looking at her.

James and Albus were already out on the dance floor with their significant others –wife and fiancé, respectively. Albus' wedding was coming up in the fall. Dr. Milligan's two oldest children, Donovan and Lisa, were also out on the dance floor with their spouses. Even after all this time they were still super excited about being invited to any event that involved the famous Potters. Dr. Milligan spied Arie, Rose, and Yvette talking excitedly, probably already wondering about the type of dress they hoped Lily would have them wearing as her bridesmaids. Despite being in separate Houses, that didn't stop Arie and Rose from keeping up their childhood friendship, and through association, Rose became good friends with Yvette despite her father's grumblings (or so Dr. Milligan heard through the Potter-Malfoy grapevine).

And said father, through various members of the Weasley family, the Longbottoms, the Scamanders, and Notts, Ron was standing near the corner of the room with his wife. Some of his brothers had just walked off to go pick at some of the refreshments and now Evelyn seemed to be encouraging him to mingle with the other people in the room. Although, much like getting his daughter to dance, Dr. Milligan was quite sure that that feat might not be possible –especially since those whom he would most likely talk to were all with those whom he wouldn't talk to.

Dr. Milligan had to commend the man for coming though. Any of the Weasleys, really. They were there to support the children -Lily specifically, since everyone knew she would've thrown the biggest combination of fit, outrage, and guilt-trip mojo had they not. Not to mention that Ginny would've murdered them. As for Ron, over the years, he and Hermione's relationship had grown from not speaking to each other to the customary, "Hey, how are you?" and followed by simple pleasantries, talks of their children, and then letting the conversation drop to silence. They never managed to reach the point of a comfortable friendship, and Dr. Milligan was quite sure that they never would. But at least there were no punches thrown in Draco's face or vice versa. And Evelyn was always nice to Hermione. It had been she to urge Ron to allow Rose to play with Arie while growing up. It had been her attempt to try to get him pass the residual feelings he'd had towards his and Hermione's mess of a breakup. It had worked (for the most part), and although Ron would never boast it around, he actually thought Arie to be a very nice child –her brothers too.

"Stop grimacing." Came Draco's voice. He heard a huff that could come from none other than Hermione and Dr. Milligan turned to the pair who were walking up to him.

"I'm not grimacing."

"Yes, you are. Liam, is that not the face of a woman who's grimacing?"

"Oh, I know better than to answer a question like that." Dr. Milligan chuckled. "What's the matter?"

"Arie's with Lincoln again." Hermione grumbled, her eyes obviously spotting her daughter with Lincoln who had just finished out his last year at Hogwarts. Arie was going into her seventh this upcoming September. Draco rolled his eyes.

"They're dating." Draco told her. "They're kind of going to be in close proximity to each other. Dancing, holding hands, kissing-"

"Ugh, please don't ever say that again." She said with a scrunched up face. "That's the last thing I'd like to envision –especially with Lincoln. I still don't understand how you're so calm about this."

"Easy. When we picked Arie up from King's Cross Station I pulled him aside and calmly, but effectively, promised to torture, then kill him, if he ever hurt her."

Hermione's mouth dropped. "Draco, that's terrible!"

"Perhaps, but at least you know he won't hurt her. The kid's deathly afraid of me." Draco chuckled.

Hermione obviously wanted to admonish him further, but the deed had already been done so she sighed. "Regardless, I still don't like it. I mean out of everyone Arie could've at least gone for Quintin!"

Draco cocked a brow at her. "Astoria's son?" He laughed then and wrapped an arm around his wife. "Well damn, I never thought I'd see the day something like that would be coming out of your mouth."

Dr. Milligan grinned. "I never thought I'd see the day that you'd be alright with one of your children marrying a Potter."

"Of course I'm fine with Scorpius marrying Lily." Draco smiled broadly. "She'll be a Malfoy. I get to live out the rest of my life knowing that Potter has to live out the rest of his with his daughter as a Malfoy. Can you think of anything better than that?"

Hermione gave him a playful slap on the chest as he laughed again. After all these years, Draco was still very much the same. Well no, Dr. Milligan couldn't exactly say that. Despite how it looked now, the blonde was much more mindful of his words –especially around his wife. Hermione did her best not to let his mother or friends (or her own for that matter) to put doubts in her mind. She also tried not to complain as much whenever her husband went on a lavish spending spree on her or the children –although she was now quite adamant at trying to convince him not to suggest his wedding venue of choice that was over five-hundred thousand galleons.

All Dr. Milligan could do was marvel at the sight. Not just at Draco and Hermione, still desperately in love in their own odd way, but at the entire dining hall. This cluster of people, this hodgepodge as he'd called it once before, would have never happened were it not for them. And to think, all it took was a little therapy and a little nudging to know that love was worth pursuing.

Author's note: Well, that's the end! This story was an absolute pleasure to write and all of your comments gave the best encouragement –not just for the story, but as an author as well! There were so many different positions to take when reading this and I really valued everything you all had to say. What you liked, didn't, improvements, etc.

The only other story I'm working on right now is the third installment of "The Condemned Series." It doesn't have very many chapters to go and I hope to be finishing it by June. (Family is visiting so no alone time for me to get my "writer's mode" on). In terms of anything new, I don't have anything ready just yet (sorry!), but do check out my profile page for a list of stories that I'm working on and hope to post soon. And yes, I'm writing them all at once. And yes, I promise you, I have a social life haha. I just really like to write.

Thanks so much for all the support :)

-WP