A/N: This is it!
The final chapter!
I can't thank you all enough for reading my work. I always get very sentimental when a story comes to a close, and I'm just so grateful that you all are here. Whether you've been with me since the beginning, just picked it up a few weeks ago, or waited until it was complete, I'm so glad you're here. I hope you enjoy the end.
As always, all my love to BiscuitsForPotter and DisenchantedGlow, without whom this story would never have gotten past the plunny stages. You're both amazing. Readers, go check out their stuff! They're both brilliant authors as well!
The week after the final battle at Yaxley's property in Norwich passed in a haze. Clean-up efforts at the battlefield alone took two days. After the dead on both sides had been recovered, the survivors accounted for the whereabouts of all the remaining Order members. It took a few days to track down those who had been injured or escaped. Lists of the dead were compared to those who were initially marked as missing, and by the end of the first week, nearly everyone had been accounted for.
Shacklebolt took his time taking detailed statements about the battle from every surviving Order member. This also took several days. Draco and Granger were interviewed individually. Draco spent his interview recounting the story of the battle as well as his confrontation with Theo. When it was Granger's turn, Draco waited nervously in the sitting room while she spoke with the Minister. What would happen if there discrepancies in their stories? Would Shacklebolt suspect that they were lying? Their story wouldn't stand up to even the tiniest bit of scrutiny. Legilimency or Veritaserum would reveal the truth. All they had was their word.
But when Granger emerged from the office and joined him, there wasn't even a hint of worry on her face. She greeted him with a smile and they joined the rest of the Order in the kitchen for dinner.
After the dust had settled, the funerals began. Draco and the rest of the surviving Order members attended at least two a day. Granger stood by his side at each one, holding tight to his hand in her black dress robes. Dean's funeral was the hardest for her—perhaps because Dean's parents wept so loudly through the eulogy. She gripped his hand hard as fat tears rolled quickly down her cheeks. After so many funerals of people he had worked with and come to know, even Draco, though he did his best to Occlude, began to feel beaten down by it all.
Despite the grieving everyone was experiencing over their lost friends, Headquarters was loud and raucous every evening with people celebrating the end of the war. Shacklebolt had allowed George and Lee to bring in more alcohol than usual, and the nights were spent drinking and laughing, sharing stories of those gone and toasting the fallen—and the sudden possibilities of the future.
With all the excitement and activity at Headquarters, Draco hardly had time to speak to Granger. Potter, it seemed, had taken to sleeping in Ginny's room, leaving Granger free to share Draco's room once more. But despite this, they were both so bone tired from their busy days that they fell asleep quickly at night, barely exchanging words as she curled into his side and closed her eyes.
Draco knew that a conversation was coming—one that would likely be difficult. They hadn't spoken properly since she pulled away from him after the slaughter at Longbottom house. She seemed to have moved past those feelings of fear, but Draco was too afraid to ask. Perhaps there was another reason for her warming up to him again. Perhaps she just didn't want to be alone after experiencing so much loss and terror. He didn't want to chase her away again by asking about it, not when her body was so warm next to his.
One week after the end of the war, Bill brought Fleur and baby Victoire for a visit. Most of the Order members had not yet met the baby, and most of the witches in the house squealed at the sight of her tiny robes and shoes.
Draco wasn't much of a baby person, but his heart hammered in his chest when he saw Granger's face light up at the sight of Victoire's bright blue eyes and blonde hair. Fleur offered to let Granger hold her, and as she settled the baby in her arms, a look crossed her face that Draco had never seen before.
Tears sprang to her eyes as she looked down at the baby's features. A tiny hand extended up, reaching for one of Granger's loose curls, but Granger intercepted it and the baby's fist wrapped around one of her fingers. Granger smiled as Victoire let out a giggle.
Draco's heart fluttered as Granger's eyes lifted to his briefly. She beamed at him, her cheeks flushing pink.
Suddenly, all Draco could imagine was Granger as a mother, holding a child with platinum curls and honey-brown eyes. Sitting next to her as she read to a pair of children in bed by the flickering light of a wand. Tucking them in at night under one of her lumpy, hand-knitted blankets. Teaching them to fly on child-proof brooms while she watched on with worry in her eyes.
He looked away from the scene before him, blinking rapidly and clearing his throat. Bill was looking at him knowingly. He sent Draco an understanding smile and a nod before reaching out to take his wife's hand. Fleur smiled at Bill and rested her head on his shoulder as Granger, Ginny, and Luna cooed over Victoire.
That night, Granger was even quieter than usual as they climbed into bed next to each other. Draco could feel the unspoken words hanging between them as she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest, but she was smiling, and she kissed him so sweetly that once again he found himself too cowardly to ask what was on her mind.
After the funerals had all been attended and the reports had all been given, things began to settle down. Order members began to return to their respective homes. Most of the Weasleys returned to the Burrow, Seamus moved into his mother's house to care for her as she was released from St Mungo's, and Luna returned to her father's home.
"Hermione, come to the Burrow." Draco heard Weasley's irritated tones from two rooms away as he approached the living room. "We'll make room for you. You shouldn't need to stay here."
"Ron, I've told you… I'm not going." Granger sounded exasperated. Draco crept closer, forcing his ire down, reminding himself that Granger could handle herself where Weasley was concerned.
"What—For him? Hermione, you can't honestly… Malfoy?"
Draco slowed as he reached the living room. He stood in the doorway and watched as Weasley set down his rucksack with a scowl.
"Ron, I don't want to fight with you about this," Granger sighed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You know who he is, Hermione—what he is! The whole Order knows now. How could you be with someone like that? Even ignoring that, after everything he's done to you, I can't believe you would just forget…"
"I haven't forgotten." Granger cut him off. "But I have forgiven him."
"And what about us?"
Granger let out a bitter laugh, a harsh, incredulous sound. "Ron, there is no us. There hasn't been for nearly a year. We were never a couple, we were just—" She shook her head. "Listen, you don't need to be happy for me, but you do need to accept it. I'm not changing my mind."
"I'll never approve," Weasley spat.
At that, Draco couldn't stop the scoff that escaped his throat. Weasley and Granger's heads snapped to him. Draco stepped forward. "Neither Granger nor I give a Flobberworm's shit about your approval, Weasley."
The ginger man's face turned purple, and his eyes were filled with so much hate that Draco wondered if he was trying to set him ablaze wandlessly. He rounded on Granger, speaking in low tones. "When you realise what a mistake this is, just know that you're always welcome at the Burrow." With that, Weasley scooped up his rucksack and disappeared into the Floo.
Draco approached Granger and stood before her. "You're staying?"
She blinked up at him, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Of course I am."
"I only thought—"
"Malfoy."
Draco grimaced as a deep voice cut their long-overdue conversation short. He turned to see Shacklebolt standing in the entrance to the living room. "Sir?"
"Can I see you in my office for a moment?" Shacklebolt's tone was light, and his face kind, but Draco felt dread seep into his bones. Was he in trouble? Had the Minister discovered discrepancies in his and Granger's story about Theo?
Feeling ill, he nodded and stepped away from Granger to follow Shacklebolt down the corridor to the office. The Minister opened the door and Draco's heart seized in his chest.
There, standing in freshly pressed robes in the middle of Shacklebolt's office at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, was his mother.
Draco froze, his heart wanting to run to her but his feet unable to move.
"Draco," Narcissa cried, beaming at him with her perfect teeth.
"Mother—"
"Her identity has been verified," Shacklebolt said with a nod.
"How did you find me?" Draco asked, his eyes unwavering on his mother as he stepped into the office.
His mother's eyes were glassy. "I only just heard about the end of the war this morning. I came home to the Manor to look for you and discovered the damage. I thought that perhaps…" Her voice broke and she took a moment to sweep a loose strand of pale hair back into her delicate chignon. "I went to the Ministry to inquire about your fate and Mr Potter informed me that you were alive and directed me to the Minister's office. He was gracious enough to take time out of his day to bring me here." She cast Shacklebolt a charming smile.
"I'll leave you two to catch up properly," Shacklebolt said, nodding at Narcissa before departing the office, closing the door behind him.
"Is it really you?" Draco asked, his voice trembling. His mind conjured horrible images of Theo in his mother's form. Perhaps the memory charms hadn't worked. Perhaps Theo had managed to reverse them somehow and had then found his mother wherever she'd been hiding.
But his fears evaporated when his mother opened her arms to him. "My dragon…"
Draco's heart soared. It was her. It must be her. No one, not even Lucius, knew that she sometimes called him 'dragon'. It had always been a private thing shared between just the two of them. Besides, he doubted that Theo could imitate the look of motherly love Narcissa was giving him.
Draco's feet carried him forward, and he threw his arms around her like a child, curling down to bury his face in her shoulder. Her familiar lilac scent enveloped him, and Draco felt tears spring to his eyes as she stroked the back of his neck just like she always used to do.
His chest tightened, and the first few tears escaped his eyes as she held him. Her arms tightened around him, and he felt her chest shudder with emotion.
He couldn't be sure how long they stood in their embrace, but at last he pulled away, wiping his cheeks and looking at her with a smile. "Where did you go?"
Narcissa sat down in one of the chairs opposite Shacklebolt's desk and beckoned for Draco to take the other. As he sank into it, she launched into her tale. "The Blacks have property in Greece that isn't linked to our name. I knew that it would be the safest place to wait out the war."
"You could have taken me with you," Draco said. "Why didn't you ask?"
His mother leaned forward, her hand coming to rest on his cheek gently. "Oh, my dragon. I wanted you to choose your own path. I didn't want to pull you along with me on mine."
Though her leaving had hurt and frightened him, Draco understood. His parents had dictated his actions for his entire life. If she had insisted that he go with her, he would never have made the choices that had led him to where he was now—who he was now.
"The Minister told me how you came to him and joined the Order. He said that you were instrumental in bringing the war to an end." Her eyes were shining with pride.
Draco bristled. "I don't know about all that. I was mostly just trying to keep myself and Granger alive."
Narcissa's head tilted thoughtfully. "Granger?"
Draco's stomach sank. How would his mother react to the news that his son had fallen in love with a muggle-born? His mother was a kind and loving woman, but she had never been shy about expressing her feelings about pure-blood superiority.
"Oh, er… yes, I met someone," Draco said, his cheeks flushing. "Well, I met her a long time ago actually, but we didn't… We didn't like each other until more recently."
"Anyone I know?" Narcissa prodded, her lips turned up in a gentle smirk.
Draco rubbed the back of his neck anxiously. "It's… er… Hermione Granger."
Narcissa went pale and drew back slightly as her eyes went wide. A memory flashed through Draco's mind. Hermione Granger, small and bloody, screaming on the drawing room floor of the Manor. "Oh, yes, of course I remember… That poor girl."
Draco nodded. "She's a Healer now," he explained. "I—erm… got very sick several months ago and she saved me. Worked night and day to bring me back and help me heal."
A pained look crossed Narcissa's face at the news of Draco's brush with death. He chose not to tell her the details. She didn't need to know everything he'd been through over the past year.
"She sounds like a brilliant young witch. And she's muggleborn?"
Anxiety gripped Draco and he hesitated before nodding slowly. "She is."
His mother's eyes dropped to the floor and she pursed her lips for a moment. "And does she reciprocate your feelings?"
Draco hesitated. Certainly things with Granger were much better than they had been a few days ago, but without talking to her, Draco had no way of knowing for sure that she wanted the same things that he did. And he wanted everything.
"I think so… It's rather complicated."
"Complicated?" Narcissa raised a pale eyebrow, and Draco was reminded of the way she looked at him when he got less than Outstanding in a class.
"Yes, we had a bit of a falling out a few weeks ago, and I'm not sure if she can look past… what I am."
Understanding flooded his mother's features, and she brought one of her delicate hands to rest on his.
Draco's heart clenched as he expressed his fears to his mother. "I had to do some awful things in order to protect her, and she saw it all. I don't know if she could possibly want me after what I've done. Who could?"
There were tears in Narcissa's eyes as she curled her fingers around his hand. "I think you might be surprised at the depth of a woman's love. There are many things a woman can accept when a man holds her heart."
Draco hoped she was right. Certainly Granger still felt feelings of love for him. The way she curled into his side each night, fingers twisting into the soft fabric of his shirt, letting out contented sighs as they drifted off to sleep together—it was obvious that her affections had not entirely waned.
"Just talk to her," urged Narcissa. "Communication is vital. Perhaps if I had expressed myself more honestly with your father…" She trailed off, a tear traversing her cheek before she wiped it away.
Draco's heart twisted. Did she know about Lucius' death yet? Had Azkaban's attempts to contact her ever managed to reach her? "Mother… about Father…"
Narcissa lifted one of her hands to silence him. "The Minister informed me of your father's passing. I'll need time to grieve his loss in my own way. I'm just so sorry that I wasn't here for you when it happened," she said as if reading his thoughts.
Draco nodded, relieved that he wouldn't have to be the one to break the news to her. "I have a letter for you from him. It's with the rest of his things upstairs."
She squeezed his hand. "We'll deal with all that later. For now, I just want to catch up with my son. And I would very much like to meet the witch who saved my son's life and stole his heart."
"Oh, Mother, I'm not so sure…"
"Is she here?" Narcissa rose to her feet and began to move towards the door.
"Mother, wait." But she was already leaving the office and venturing into the house. Draco raced after her, his heart pounding a rapid staccato in his chest. He skidded to a halt in the living room, where his mother had stopped just inside.
Granger was seated in a chair by the fireplace, her honey eyes wide as she stared at Narcissa Malfoy.
"You must be Hermione," Narcissa greeted. She turned to Draco and gave him a pointed look, one that he recognised from his childhood. One that indicated that he must mind his manners.
"Oh, yes." He jumped and stepped forward to introduce them properly. "Mother, this is Hermione Granger. Hermione…" The name still felt foreign on his tongue. He wondered if it would ever feel natural to call her by her given name. "May I present my mother, Narcissa Malfoy."
Granger rose from her chair and straightened out her shirt before pushing her hair behind her ears and attempting to smooth the unmanageable curls. "It's a pleasure, Mrs Malfoy." Her voice was small, and Draco could see the fear in her eyes. Her movements were jerky, like a chipmunk trapped by a predator. Suddenly, she tucked one leg behind the other and dipped down slightly as she bowed her head in an odd type of curtsey before bolting upright again, her cheeks flaming in embarrassment.
Draco nearly laughed at the image of Hermione Granger curtseying to his mother in her panic, but managed to quell his amusement.
Narcissa looked Granger over, her grey eyes taking in her denim shorts and socked feet before sweeping over her unruly hair. Draco watched, trying to decipher the thoughts that were likely running through his mother's mind. Surely Granger was not the type of woman his mother had imagined her son falling for. She was… wild. Untamed. Muggle-born. Everything that his mother wasn't.
He held his breath as his mother took a step towards Granger. She was several inches taller in her heels, and already an intimidating woman. Granger looked up at her, the worry in her eyes increasing by the second. Then, without warning, Narcissa threw her arms around Granger in a tight embrace.
Granger's eyes widened in shock, and she stood stiffly for a moment as if unsure what to do. Then her arms lifted and curled around his mother's back, her brow furrowed with emotion and she closed her eyes as tears began to fall.
A moment later, Narcissa pulled away, moving her hands to cradle Granger's face. "Thank you for keeping my son safe," she said softly.
Tears were streaming down Granger's face freely and she smiled.
"I look forward to getting to know you." Narcissa gently wiped away a few tears from Granger's cheeks with her thumbs before stepping back and clasping her hands in front of her.
Granger nodded, beaming at Narcissa through her tears.
The anxiety in Draco's chest loosened, and he wondered why he had even been nervous at all.
That night, Draco ate dinner with Granger and his mother. His mother asked them both dozens of questions about the war, telling them that news had been hard to come by in Greece. Draco and Granger both did their best to answer her, but there were many things he never wanted her to know the details of. How close he'd come to death at the hands of the Death Eaters' potion, what he did to Pansy's wand, how he retaliated after her death, the sheer number of men he had killed over the past year, Theo's betrayal… He glossed over these details, keeping his answers vague.
His mother mostly seemed interested in learning about Granger. She asked about her Muggle upbringing, what her parents did for a living, and how she had gotten interested in Healing. Granger sat straight as an arrow in her chair, taking small bites of her vegetables and dabbing her mouth with a napkin before answering. Her voice wavered slightly and her eyes darted around rapidly as if afraid to look his mother in the eye, but his mother just smiled at the two of them.
After they had finished eating and talking, his mother rose from the table and brushed off her robes with delicate hands. "Thank you both for the pleasure of your company. I missed so much while I was abroad." She smiled at Granger. "And it's always wonderful to make new friends."
Granger blushed and smiled.
Narcissa retired to bed, saying that her day of travels and reunions had made her quite weary. With so many Order members moved out, there was room for Shacklebolt to offer Narcissa a room of her own at Headquarters.
"You're too kind," his mother accepted with a smile. "I assure you it's only temporary." Her eyes slid to Draco to address him. "We'll have to discuss what to do about the Manor soon."
Draco nodded in response, choosing not to tell her that he would be all too happy to never set foot in the Manor again.
Narcissa smiled at him, kissed his cheek, and then ascended the stairs for the evening.
When Draco and Granger made their way upstairs as well, Draco closed and locked the door. Granger sat down on the bed, smiling up at him as he came to stand in front of her.
"Your mother is lovely." She reached out and grabbed hold of his wrists, running her hands up his arms.
"She likes you," Draco said, dropping to his knees before her and resting his hands on her thighs.
Granger beamed. "Do you think so?"
Draco nodded.
"I was worried that she might not, because I'm—"
Muggle-born. The word hung between them. A painful reminder of his past prejudices.
Draco moved his thumbs over her skin in soothing circles. "She doesn't seem to mind."
Granger let out a little sigh of relief and smiled at him.
Draco reached out to brush a curl off her forehead. "Are you sure you want to stay here? I would understand if you wanted to go somewhere else. I would prefer you not go stay with Weasley, but I… I understand. Everyone else is leaving."
Granger leaned closer to him, her hands sliding up his arms to rest on his biceps. "I don't want to go to the Burrow," she replied gently. "I know we can't stay here forever, but I was really hoping that…"
Draco watched her as she trailed off. She was biting her lip, her eyes downcast.
"That we could find a place together?" he finished for her.
Her eyes snapped to his, wide and shining. Her lips turned up. "Would you want to?"
"Would you want to?" Draco asked, nerves settling in his belly. "I only thought that since… since Longbottom house…" He trailed off and cleared his throat.
"Oh…" Granger frowned and the silence stretched between them for several seconds before she spoke again. "Draco, I—I'm so sorry about pushing you away. I wish I—You didn't deserve that after everything you had to do."
"It's alright," he assured her, ghosting his fingers over her cheek.
She shook her head, curls bouncing around her shoulders. "Don't do that. Don't let me off so easily. You were brilliant… frighteningly brilliant. And I just—" Her voice broke and she took a moment to collect herself. "You're capable of such incredible things, Draco. Things I can't do. And yes, they might be things that I don't want to do, but if you hadn't been capable of them, we would have died months ago.
"If you hadn't been trained the way you were, if you had never learned those things, we never would have made it out of the Longbottom house alive. And we certainly wouldn't have stood a chance against Theo last week."
It was something that Draco had thought about a lot over the past few days. His training and subsequent career as Dolohov's assassin had always been the thing about himself that he hated most, but now, in the wake of everything that had happened, he couldn't bring himself to hate it anymore. It was a part of him—the part of him that had kept them both alive through so many trials over the past year.
"Can you forgive me?" Granger asked, her lip trembling.
Draco smirked, raising one eyebrow as he pretended to consider it. "I'll think about it."
Granger laughed and smacked his arm playfully. "Prat."
Unable to stop himself any longer, Draco guided her toward him by the nape of her neck to kiss her hard. She let out a little squeak of surprise before melting into him, her fingers digging into his arms to pull him closer.
Draco lifted himself off his knees only to drag Granger into the middle of the bed. He leaned over her, letting his tongue dart out to tease hers. Warm fingers delved under his shirt, pulling it up and tracing the lines of his torso.
Moving back slightly, he removed his shirt before capturing her lips again. A little moan from the back of her throat had his cock twitching with anticipation. He dug his fingers into her hair, relishing the feeling of her curls in his fists.
Granger arched her back, her breasts brushing his bare chest through her shirt. Dragging his mouth from hers, he lifted her shirt over her head, eyes taking in her emerald green bra with surprise.
When he tore his eyes away from her breasts, he found her smirking at him. Like she'd planned this. Minx. With a deep growl, Draco dove down, lips connecting with the soft mound of her breast while he filled his hand with the other.
Granger gasped and arched into him again, her hips jumping as he kneaded her breast. He reached around her, fingers fumbling with the clasp of her bra for a moment before it sprung free. Then he pulled the garment away and let his eyes take in her breasts.
Her hands flew to his trousers, quickly releasing the buttons before pushing them over his hip bones. He stood up just long enough to let them fall to the ground before he reached for her denim shorts. Granger looked at him with dark, heated eyes as he unbuttoned them and pulled them down her legs, leaving her in only her lacy green knickers.
"Are you trying to kill me?" he growled, dropping to his knees and running his hands up her legs, gently pushing them apart. He teased his fingers over her inner thighs, inching closer and closer to her center and smirking when she trembled with anticipation.
His fingers brushed the edge of the lace and he watched her hips jump, desperately following his touch. Then he trailed his hands back down, massaging circles into the sides of her knees before moving back up again.
"Please," she whimpered, hips circling against nothing in search of relief.
At last he brushed his thumb over her core through the soaked lace. She keened and his cock twitched, now rock hard in his boxers.
Hooking his fingers into the waistband of her knickers, he dragged them down her legs. He stood up, his eyes drinking in the sight of her laid out before him. Heart filled to bursting, he silently vowed to never let her go again.
Granger smiled up at him, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth alluringly. Draco shed his boxers and climbed over her, his mouth devouring hers.
Her hand wrapped around his cock and he groaned into her mouth as she stroked him.
"Gonna fuck you all night long, Granger," he promised, circling his thumb over her clit before sinking two fingers into her hot cunt.
"Yes, please," she gasped, spreading her legs wider and throwing her head back in ecstasy.
He didn't stop until she was writhing beneath him, her moans and gasps filling the dark room. At last, he settled himself between her legs and sank into her warm sheath, unable to stop the low groan that escaped him.
"Fuck."
Granger wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer by pressing her heels into the globes of his arse. He stilled as he bottomed out within her, closing his eyes against the all-too-sexy image of her below him, her hair fanned out around her head and her lips parted as she panted.
After a moment, he had regained enough control to draw back and then drive into her again. She let out a cracked cry and rolled her hips. He sank even deeper and cursed again.
Her hands ran over his arms and shoulders as their hips snapped together with increasing speed. Draco dropped his head, trailing kisses along her neck as his fingers curled into her hair. He breathed in her scent as he drove into her, nearly losing himself to the bliss of being with her.
Everything about her was surrounding him, drowning him. Her warmth, her scent, the sound of her breathy moans against his ear.
He felt the telltale tightening deep within him, but he knew he could hold back for her. Her hips were moving erratically and he could feel her cunt fluttering. She was close, and he was determined to make her scream for him.
Pushing himself up onto his palms, he drove into her with new force. She gasped and twisted her fingers into the blanket beside her head as her tits bounced with each thrust. With one hand, he reached between them, making tight circles against her with the pad of his thumb.
With a wail, she came undone, arching her back as her legs trembled. Her hands clutched his biceps as she gasped and moaned.
Draco didn't stop. He fucked her through her orgasm until her arms had gone limp and her eyes were glassy. Then he hoisted up one of her legs, fingertips digging into the flesh of her arse as he leaned forward and drove into her quickly. Granger gasped at the change. He buried his face in her curls, white bursting behind his eyelids as he came with a grunt.
As he caught his breath and slowly returned to his senses, Granger ran her fingers through his hair and over the back of his neck. At last, he pulled out of her with a shiver and collapsed onto his back next to her.
Granger let out a contented sigh and rolled over to rest her head on his chest. He curled his arm around her and let his fingers drift through her hair.
"I missed you," she sighed, drawing absentminded shapes on his chest.
Draco pressed a kiss against her forehead, his heart bursting with happiness. "Me too, Granger."
Sunlight trickled through the curtains and across the bed, gently rousing Draco from his slumber. His bed was warm and the blankets were heavy on his chest. He blinked, eyes opening to a forest of brown curls over his eyes. Pulling his head away slightly, he found Granger pressed into him, her arm draped over his chest and her legs tangled with his.
A cursory glance revealed that she was still sleeping soundly, and he didn't want to disturb her. With gentle fingers, brushed a few errant curls away from her parted lips. He let his eyes dart over her freckled nose and cheeks for a moment, unable to stop himself from kissing her forehead.
The clock on the bedside table beyond her read nearly nine in the morning, and though Draco didn't want to leave her after the night they'd shared—especially since he had woken her up twice during the night to make her moan for him again and again—he thought he could perhaps slip away just for a moment to make them some tea and breakfast.
Moving slowly to avoid disturbing her, he inched backwards until he was free of her grasp. Her brow furrowed slightly with the loss, but relaxed again when he pulled the blanket over her shoulders.
Draco pulled on some pajama trousers and a t-shirt before silently leaving the room.
Headquarters was quiet as Draco ventured down the stairs and into the kitchen. He passed Potter in the living room and was met with a grimace and an uncharacteristic flushing of the Boy Wonder's cheeks as he crossed to the kitchen. Odd…
His mother was in the kitchen, sipping tea and reading The Daily Prophet in powder blue robes. She looked up when he entered, her eyebrows jumping up.
"I figured I wouldn't see you until much later in the morning," she quipped with a wry smile.
"Why would you think that?" Draco asked, grabbing two cups and pouring tea into each.
"It just seems that you had a very busy night."
Draco turned. His mother was peering at him over the rim of her teacup, lips barely holding back a smirk.
He felt the blush rise up his neck as the realisation washed over him. Had he and Granger forgotten to silence their room? He wracked his brain, trying desperately to recall. Was that why Potter had given him a look?
"I hope you two are being safe."
Mortification swept over Draco with incredible force. Why had he come downstairs? He didn't need food. He needed the floor to open up and swallow him whole.
He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I am absolutely not discussing this with you." He resolutely turned back to the tea, preparing Granger's cup with peppermint, as he knew she liked it. If he had any luck at all, his mother would never speak of this again for the rest of their lives.
He wasn't lucky, as it turned out.
"Don't get me wrong," Narcissa continued, rising to her feet and carrying her plate and cup to the sink. She set them to wash with a wave of her wand before turning to Draco. "I would love to have grandchildren, but I hope you at least have the good sense to be sure that they would be legitimate."
"Mother! Please stop."
"I take it you two talked and worked things out?" she prodded, pulling a long, brown hair from his t-shirt and letting it fall to the floor.
Draco cleared his throat. "Erm… yes. We did."
His mother smiled and passed him the honey for his own tea. "I'm glad to hear it. But please, in the future, don't forget the silencing charm. There are certain things a mother should never hear her child do."
How fitting it would be to survive the war only to die of humiliation at the hands of his mother.
Draco cleared his throat and nodded before hastily assembling a tray of tea, toast, and fruit and hurrying out of the kitchen and back up to his bedroom.
Granger was sitting up in bed when he entered, looking groggy and appropriately bedraggled after their night of lovemaking. "I thought you left me," she said with a smile as he closed the door and levitated the tray over to the bed.
"Never." He smirked over his shoulder before casting a silencing charm. He had no idea if their morning would lead to the charm being necessary, but after what he just went through in the kitchen he wasn't going to take any chances.
Granger took a sip of her tea as Draco climbed onto the bed next to her. She smiled at him as she inhaled the peppermint scent. "Thanks for making breakfast."
Draco raised his brow at the sad display of toast and fruit. "I would have done more, but my mother was in the kitchen. It… er… it seems we forgot to silence the room last night."
Granger nearly dropped her teacup. Her head snapped to him so quickly that her curls whipped around her face. "What? I thought you did!"
Draco grimaced and shook his head, reaching for a strawberry. "So I was in a hurry to get out of there."
Granger set her cup down on the tray and flopped back onto the pillows, her hands flying to her face. "She heard everything?" Her voice was muffled by her palms, but Draco could see the red flush on her neck.
"It seems so."
A mortified groan left Granger's lips.
"Potter too… maybe. He didn't say anything though. Just gave me a look."
Granger's hands crept up, fingers sinking into her hair. "Well… I'm never leaving this room again."
"Fine with me," Draco agreed, sipping his tea.
Granger sat up and reached for a piece of toast. "Good thing I go back to work tomorrow. I can't face your mother again after this."
Draco blinked. "You're going back to work?"
She nodded. "When I was your full-time Healer, I stopped going into the hospital. After you were released from my care, Shacklebolt told St Mungo's that I would be working as the Order's on-site Healer full-time for the remainder of the war. He didn't want me going back and forth anymore since I was a target, and things were getting so dangerous that he couldn't devote so much manpower to my protective guard. But now that the war is over, I'm really excited to go back."
Draco had gotten so used to having her around every day. He wondered how he would occupy his time while she worked.
"So, when we're looking for a place to live," Granger pressed on, "I was wondering if you'd be opposed to looking for a place in London near the hospital. I know I can always Apparate, but I like being close by. I've explored that area quite a lot over the past couple of years and I think it'd be a nice neighborhood to live in."
"Sure," Draco said. "Wherever you'd like."
"But I also don't want you to feel like you're too far from work." She paused, casting him a sideways glance. "If you decide to work… Have you given it any thought?"
Draco had never had a job… not in the conventional sense at least. He had never even given much thought to what he would like to do. When he was a child, he'd had dreams of becoming a Quidditch player. But now, the thought of being in the public eye didn't interest him anymore. And besides, it had been years since he'd played consistently. He was probably much too out of practice to stand a chance of making a team.
By the time he gave real thought to his future, the Dark Lord was making all of Draco's decisions for him. His future was predetermined. Laid out before his feet with a wand at his back forcing him to walk.
He hadn't considered what he might do after the war. Perhaps he hadn't expected to survive long enough to have to decide.
"I'm not qualified to do anything."
"Nonsense!" Granger sent him a scowl over her teacup. "You're a brilliant wizard with countless skills."
"My only skills are not the sort of things that are going to look good on a resumé, Granger," Draco grumbled. "Besides, I don't even know what I would want to do."
"What about being an Auror?" she suggested. "I'm sure your skills would do well in a job like that. I bet you would fly through the training program."
Draco thought about it. The idea of being Potter's subordinate and having to follow hundreds of Ministry rules and laws didn't particularly appeal to him. "I don't think so, Granger." He shook his head. "I'm an assassin. It's all I'm good at."
Granger set down her tea and leaned into his shoulder, looping her arm around his. "That's not true. You're far better at protecting people if you ask me."
Draco's heart fluttered, and he felt warm from her love and acceptance of him.
"You have time to figure it out. No one is saying you have to know right now." She interlaced her fingers with his and offered him a loving smile.
"I'll think about it," Draco promised. As much as he wanted to stay here forever with her in their little silenced room where they'd shared their first kiss, he supposed that they had to move forward. And he was very much looking forward to building a future with her, wherever it might take them.
The next day, Draco accompanied Granger to St Mungo's. While she hurried off to greet her coworkers and meet with patients, Draco visited Charlie, who had woken up two days prior and was healing quite well.
Draco hadn't been to St Mungo's since he'd hobbled out with Granger supporting him eight months ago. It felt odd to wander the corridors without the use of a walker. Odd to see the Healers that had tended to him so carefully for weeks barely pay him any mind as they passed on their rounds.
As Draco settled in the chair next to Charlie's bed, he was reminded that Charlie had been one of the only Order members to visit him when he'd been in his darkest hours. He felt a rush of gratitude for the man sitting up in bed before him.
Charlie looked pale, but grinned at Draco as they spoke. He asked about Theo and seemed relieved to hear that the man who had nearly killed him and masqueraded as him was dead.
"As soon as I'm released and cleared to return to work, I'll be going back to Romania," said Charlie. "It was always meant to just be temporary, me being here."
"I'm sure you're excited to get back to work." Draco tried to quell the disappointment blooming within him at the thought of Charlie moving so far away.
If Charlie noticed Draco's sadness, he didn't comment on it. "I am. I'm sure my dragons have been missing me. Well… as much as dragons can miss a person." He laughed and then grimaced, reaching for his side where Draco could see his wrappings under his thin hospital gown.
He pressed on, shifting gingerly into a more slumped position. "I'll be home for George's wedding. They came to visit yesterday. Apparently they're thinking about November."
"That's rather soon." Draco's eyebrows lifted.
"Well, you know George." Charlie grinned. "Always diving straight into the deep end after barely testing the waters. It's worked out for him so far. I have no doubt that this will too."
Charlie promised to stop by when he was released before leaving for Romania. After Draco left, he returned to Headquarters and spoke with his mother about the Manor. He told her that he had no interest in ever living there again, but that he would help her refurbish it if she longed to make it her home once more.
When Narcissa heard that Draco and Granger were planning to move in together, she was elated.
"Oh, we'll have to take your grandmother's ring to the curse breakers to be sure that it's ready for her. And you know our property in France is lovely in the spring. If you give me enough notice, I can have the house-elves prepare the garden for a small ceremony."
"Mother," Draco cut her off, eyes wide. "I'm not marrying her. Not yet, at least."
She just gave him a warm smile, a knowing glint in her eye. "Alright, my dragon." She patted his hand gently, but said no more on the subject.
When Granger came home that evening she was a flurry of excitement. She hurried through the Floo and threw her arms around his neck as soon as she saw him. Her grin stretched ear to ear and she immediately began babbling without breathing.
"I met a Healer today! He's a new hire from my leave of absence. His name is Spalding… or Spangler… no, Spalding. And he specialises in memory charm reversal." She set down her beaded bag by the coffee table and began pacing around, her hair swinging freely around her shoulders.
"Memory charms, Draco! I have no idea if he's ever worked with Muggles before, or with patients whose memory loss is quite so extensive as my parents', but wouldn't it be great if he could help me get their memories back?" She was speaking fast, her hands gesticulating broadly.
"Of course, I'll have to discuss travelling with him to Australia. I'm sure international Portkeys aren't cheap. I'll probably have to work for a while to save up, especially with us trying to find a place to live… I wonder if I'll have to take time off of work. I probably can't since I just had so much time away. I'll have to talk to my supervisor and see what could be done. Maybe I can go back and forth. Or maybe it's better if I'm not there during the early stages of their memory charm reversal. Do you think that would be upsetting for them? And what if they're angry once they remember what I did? What if… what if they're happier without me?"
"Granger," Draco cut her off, grabbing her upper arms and pulling her into his chest to stop her pacing. "Don't worry about that. They're going to be thrilled to have you back in their lives. And as for the cost… well, I don't want you worrying about that either. I'll pay for the Portkeys… or for our new place. Whatever you're comfortable with."
"You would do that?" Granger looked up at him with teary eyes, her arms snaking around his waist.
"Of course," Draco said, tucking a hair behind her ear and cupping her cheek. "I haven't used it in years, but I have a pretty sizable fortune waiting in Gringotts. And seeing as I'm now Lord Malfoy," he sneered at the title, "I see no reason why I shouldn't use that fortune to make sure that the woman I love has the opportunity to reconnect with those that are most important to her."
Granger buried her face in his chest, squeezing him tight around the ribs. "Thank you."
Draco kissed the top of her head, letting her warmth surround him.
She pulled back suddenly, giving him a stern look and poking a finger into his chest. "It's a loan though. I'm not taking handouts."
Draco laughed. "Sure, Granger. Would you like for me to draw you up a contract? Perhaps with interest?"
"That won't be necessary. But I expect you to tell me exactly what you spend so that I can pay you back in full when I have the money."
"Yes, ma'am," Draco chuckled, pulling her back against his chest. With any luck, in a year or so, they would share their finances and she wouldn't need to worry about paying him back. But that was a topic for another day.
His mother decided to move back into the Manor, so over the next few weeks, she began the process of making restorations and renovations. Draco learned that when she had left last year she had taken two of the Malfoy house-elves with her, and as she hadn't known what the situation would hold, she'd left them in Greece temporarily. But now that she was beginning work on the Manor, she'd called them back so that they could help with the process.
Although he would have been happy to never return to the Manor, Draco spent his days helping her. He avoided his old bedroom—not wanting to see how badly it had been damaged by Dolohov's fire—and he steered clear of the drawing room. He helped his mother oversee the plans for the renovations and pick out furnishings.
In the evenings, after Granger was off work, Draco returned to Headquarters to meet her and then they left to look at flats together. It seemed that they had very different tastes when it came to flats. Granger, it seemed, would be perfectly content to live in a run down shoebox if it meant getting a bargain. But Draco thought it was worth it to pay a little extra to have more space and finer finishes.
When he told her that he would be happy to pay the difference, she stomped her foot and sent him a fiery glare. "I'm not going to let you pay for everything! You can't just throw money around and get your way!"
Draco laughed and gestured at the tiny living room of the dingy flat they were standing in. "If throwing money around means I don't have to live in this hovel, then I'll happily empty my vault."
It led to their first true argument as a couple, and though he knew he shouldn't antagonise her, Draco couldn't help but keep her angry for a bit longer than necessary. It had been so long since she'd fought with him like this, eyes alight with anger, hair crackling with energy, her tiny body practically vibrating as she spoke her piece. He loved it. He loved her. And he couldn't wait to argue with her for years to come.
In the end, they compromised on a small but high-end flat in London. They would have to stay at Headquarters for another week before they could move in, and with the number of Order members still lingering dwindling by the day, Draco was eager to move out.
Potter left Headquarters for the home left to him by Sirius Black. "It hasn't been safe since the war began," he explained to Draco when asked why it hadn't been used during the war as a safe house. "But now that it's over I've finally had the chance to go and get it set up. There's a lot of work to be done to make it livable, but at least I'll be out of Kingsley's house."
Draco looked around the living room of Headquarters. "This is Shacklebolt's house?"
Potter nodded. "I'm surprised you didn't know. He opened it up to the Order when the war began and we needed a base of operations."
Draco suddenly felt it was more important than ever to leave as soon as possible. He certainly didn't want to overstay his welcome at the Minister of Magic's home.
The day before he and Granger were scheduled to move into their new flat, Shacklebolt called Draco into his office.
"I hear you and Hermione will be leaving tomorrow," the Minister said, walking around his desk and sinking into his leather chair.
"Yes, sir. I'm sorry if we've been an imposition." Draco thought of the night he'd forgotten to silence the bedroom and had to fight the flush that threatened to redden his cheeks.
Shacklebolt waved him off. "I'm sure I'll have guests in and out over the next several months as things continue to settle down. I actually wanted to talk to you about your future."
A wave of dread swept over Draco. He had thought about his potential career options since Granger had brought it up, but he was no closer to figuring out what he might like to do with his life.
"There was an incident last year in which a young man managed to break past my wards at the Ministry of Magic and gained access to my office." There was a glint in Shacklebolt's eye as he spoke. "Luckily, the perpetrator was not seeking sensitive information, nor did he wish to cause me harm. The Auror Department has looked into the wards and has assured me that they are extremely secure; however, I think it would be wise to consult with an expert on the matter."
Shacklebolt slid a folder across the desk. Draco flipped it open to see a long document. He read the first sentence.
This contract hereby entitles Malfoy Security Firm full rights and access to the protective wards and security of the office of the Minister of Magic at the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, London, and the office of the Minister of Magic at the Ministry of Magic, London.
"Malfoy... Security Firm?" Draco furrowed his brow.
Shacklebolt shrugged. "Of course, if you want to change the name, you can call it whatever you like and I'll have another contract drawn up."
"You're offering me a job?"
Shacklebolt stood and walked around his desk. "I've never met anyone who had such a talent for ward building and breaking as you do. I figured we could start with my personal offices and then discuss the opportunity to expand to other areas of the Ministry. The archives, the Department of Mysteries… perhaps even Azkaban. What do you say?"
A security firm… Draco hadn't even thought about a career in security, although it would certainly cater to his strengths. Suddenly, his stomach was swooping with excitement at the idea of running his own business. A company founded in his name specialising in the protection of important people and places.
He thought of Granger's words.
You're far better at protecting people if you ask me.
"Did Granger put you up to this?"
Shacklebolt frowned. "I haven't spoken privately with Hermione since she delivered her report on the final battle. I certainly haven't discussed this potential business proposition with her."
Draco looked back at the contract. He would need the evening to look it over. But the offer was intriguing. It seemed mad that Shacklebolt and Granger would both independently mention his protective skills. Perhaps those qualities were more obvious in him than he'd previously thought.
"I'll do it," Draco announced. "I'll need to figure out the logistics. I've never started a business before, but… yes. I'm in."
Shacklebolt grinned and clapped his hands together. "Wonderful! Read through the contract. Feel free to get legal representation to look at it as well. Take some time to suss out the details. And if you need any help or guidance, feel free to come to me. I'm sure my wards can't keep you out for long." The Minister winked and then escorted Draco from his office with a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Granger was ecstatic when Draco told her about Shacklebolt's offer that evening. She threw her arms around his neck for a moment and then pulled away to talk to him animatedly, practically bouncing on her toes as she did.
"A security company! That's a wonderful idea! I can't believe I didn't think of it. Kingsley is so brilliant to see the potential there."
Draco grinned at her excitement. She began pacing back and forth, brow furrowed in concentration as she rambled on.
"Oh, we'll have to see if there's any business rentals available. A small place at first, just to get you started, but then it could grow from there. And what an amazing way to get the company off the ground. Private security for the Minister of Magic himself! Other people and companies are going to be tripping over themselves to try to sign on with your company. Oh, Draco! This is—"
He silenced her with a kiss, unable to stop himself from celebrating his new enterprise in the best way he knew how.
The next day, Draco and Hermione moved into their new flat. Although many had offered to let them take some of their old furniture to get them started, Draco insisted on buying everything new. He'd be damned if he started off in his first home sleeping on an extra bed from the Weasley's attic, or lounging on one of Potter's dusty old couches. This was their fresh start, and he wanted it all to be perfect.
The following week, Draco found a small office space to rent in Diagon Alley. He spoke with a solicitor his mother recommended about legally setting up Malfoy Security Firm. After that he was officially open for business. He began with the Minister's tasks—checking and strengthening the security of his offices at the Ministry. He also changed the wards on Shacklebolt's house. The war was over, and as such there was no longer a need for so many people to have access to the home. Draco altered the wards so that access was limited to only Shacklebolt and his invited guests.
As his first official job wrapped up and word got out that Draco Malfoy was being trusted with the Minister's private security detail, Draco was inundated with new prospective clients. He had assumed that most people would be wary of hiring an ex-Death Eater for their protective services, but with Shacklebolt's endorsement, the requests flooded in.
Granger was busy as well. Between her regular Healer duties and working with Spalding on her parents' memory reversal, she spent long hours at St Mungo's and always came home with stories about the progress she'd made with her patients or the promising news Spalding had discovered in his research.
As October began, Draco and Granger began to travel back and forth to Australia on the weekends. They went twice on their own to locate the Grangers, and then several more times with Spalding. The middle-aged wizard was always cordial, even if he was a very stuffy and serious travel companion. Spalding began the first meeting with the Grangers—Wilkins, as they thought their name was, by getting them to realise small inconsistencies in their memories. Granger had done an incredible job, so this was no easy feat.
She and Draco sat in the cafe across the street from the Wilkins' home in Sydney while Spalding worked. Granger twisted her napkin in her hands and chewed her bottom lip nervously until Draco placed his hand reassuringly over hers. It would be several sessions before her parents would be ready to meet her, but she hadn't been able to resist getting a glimpse of them as they walked home from work hand in hand.
After a couple of hours, Spalding entered the cafe and joined them at their table. "Progress."
Granger's face lit up. "Really?"
Spalding nodded. "Their memory should be able to be completely restored. I think I'll stay here for a few days and see what I can do. Then I'll travel back and forth for a bit with more sporadic visits. I'll contact you when I think they're ready to meet you."
Granger's eyes swam with tears. She beamed at the Healer and nodded. "Thank you."
Draco shook Spalding's hand as they departed and promised to reimburse him for his expenses.
They were warned it would take many weeks—perhaps even months, for a full recovery to take place. Still, Spalding worked tirelessly, splitting his time between St Mungo's and Australia. Draco was grateful that the Healer was so diligent, because he could remind Hermione of that diligence when she grew worried to the point of distraction. He used Spalding's frequent updates to reassure her.
"Remember what Spalding said last week? They remember having a daughter now. I'm sure you'll get to meet them very soon. Just be patient, love."
She gave a little sniffle and he rubbed circles into her back and kissed her temple. And in the end, she thanked him for making her feel better.
"What would I do without you?" she murmured into his shoulder.
His heart fluttered as he answered, "It's me who should be asking that."
George and Angelina married on a brisk sunny day in November. Granger wore a tight-fitting long sleeved red dress that kept Draco so distracted that he could hardly remember a single detail about the wedding. George and Angelina were blissfully happy, both sporting wide grins as they gazed lovingly at each other during the ceremony. But as lovely as Angelina looked in her gown, Draco couldn't help but think that Granger would be infinitely more beautiful adorned in white lace.
After the ceremony, Draco escorted Granger across the lawn into the reception tent where Charlie and Bill were laughing loudly and starting the party off with far too much alcohol and horrible dancing to boisterous music. As they walked, Granger looped her arm around his and smiled up at him.
They passed the warped windows of the Burrow, and as he caught sight of their reflection, he was struck with the memory of their trip to Muggle London just before Christmas last year. It was the first time she'd held his arm, the first time he'd thought about what it might be like to go on a date with her. And now here they were. She was his, and he was hers.
As they took the dance floor, Draco pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard, one hand pulling her in by the small of her back and the other slipping into the curls at the nape of her neck. She tilted her head up, slanting her lips gently against his as her hands slid up his arms.
When he pulled away she grinned up at him. "What was that for?"
"I love you. Do you know that?"
Granger nodded and wrapped her arms around his middle to pull him close. "I know. And I love you, too."
He pulled her hand into his and began to guide her as they danced across the floor. She was untrained and clumsy, and she stepped on his toes more than once, apologising with a blush each time, but Draco didn't mind in the slightest.
It didn't matter that she hadn't been brought up with all of the graces of a pureblood education. She wasn't the woman he'd envisioned himself with when he was younger, but Draco didn't care. He was sure that he wasn't the man she'd envisioned either. But they'd found each other, and as imperfect as they were, she felt like perfection to him.
All of his past crimes and flaws and darkness… none of that mattered. She was here. She saw him for everything he was and she still wanted him. And when he held her in his arms, he felt like he was finally in the light.
Fin
A/N: Well, there you have it! Let me know what you think in the comments and come chat with me on the Department of Fandom discord server in the #gracefullioness channel.
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