Exceedingly Long Author's Note:

Once upon a time, I had plans. Plans to write a sequel and this bit here, the seven years later bit, was supposed to be a 'sneak peek' if you would and so it was inserted at the end of Death. However, I'm not positive that will ever come to fruition and I know it's confusing to read, which was the point. I wanted the confusion. I wanted the 'what the hell did I just read' sort of response.

I got that, in spades, not that I'm complaining.

I do think if a sequel is ever written, this particular section needs a complete overhaul, but it's here anyway...for now.

My writing style has changed as is what happens over the years and this story was particularly dark and the sequel (at least the bits that are in my head) are even darker and I don't know, I really don't know if it's something that should be written.

Thank you for reading, I don't think I can ever say that enough. Thank you for expressing your confusion, your love, your hate, all of it. I appreciate it greatly.

New things are coming - some day.

As always...*kisses*

Seven Years Later

Lily Weasley strummed her fingers on the Slytherin table over breakfast with a scowl perfectly etched on her angular face. She observed James laughing with her bloody cousins at the Gryffindor table while he cast furtive glances at Lyra. She was oblivious of course, her nose stuck in yet another book at the Ravenclaw table. It infuriated her more than she was willing to admit that James never once looked at her that way.

She knew she'd become a bit obsessed with him, but she couldn't help it. No matter how many times her mother introduced her to fine eligible wizards, they bored Lily almost to tears. Jarek Malfoy would have been an obvious contender if he hadn't been completely smitten with Coraline Zabini. She knew there were rumours flouting about that they were going to marry the moment they graduated and it disgusted her.

Everything disgusted her, really. Lily hated them, all of them and while she put on a good show when she managed to go home for the holidays, she wasn't fooling anyone really. Lily had heard the angry whispers but had never really been able to make sense of it. They were afraid of her and she revelled in it.

"I don't know why you moon over him. He's not even special." Marina Flint flounced beside her best friend and immediately loaded her plate with bacon and toast, completely foregoing the eggs.

"I'm not bloody mooning. I'm contemplating. Did you know she barely even looks at him? Whatever does he see in her?" Lily nibbled a bit of toast with narrowed eyes.

"Lyra Malfoy? Well besides the fact, she's best in class, she's gorgeous, and she doesn't even know it. I mean I suppose she suspects because someone is always telling her, but she just blushes and hurries away to the library. Loads of boys have gone completely mental over her and she spends most of her time with Molly Weasley." Marina shook her head before slurping her tea. "If you really want a go with him, there are ways you realise?"

Lily gazed into Marina's bright blue eyes, grateful the girl looked more like her mother and gestured for her to continue.

"Honestly, do you ever pay attention in class? I swear we learned of it years ago in Potions. Now Professor Malfoy was delicious to look at, wasn't he then?"

"Marina, the point…get there." Lily waggled her fingers in James direction and he smiled brightly, oblivious to her affections.

"It depends, of course, I mean do you wish to keep him or simply give him a try?" Marina flipped her light brown hair over her shoulder and adjusted her crisp white blouse.

"I'm not sure, though I'd love to have him before Lyra. That would be bloody delicious."

"He's your study partner for Potions, isn't he? Just dose him with a bit of Love Potion silly. Sometimes I wonder about you, Lily." Marina patted Lily's shoulder and left the Great Hall.

Later, Lily Weasley wandered the halls of Hogwarts with a vial hidden in her school robes while making her way to the Room of Hidden Things. It was the only place she and James could study in peace and worked perfectly toward her twisted agenda. She turned the corner and gasped, almost dropping her wand.

James and Lyra were in a darkened corner of the castle and it was obvious he was snogging her senseless. Her small hands were gripping his half-buttoned white shirt and his hand lingered on her bum. Lyra's eyes were closed and it looked as though James was whispering in her ear.

Lily swallowed the bile, which threatened to erupt and closed her eyes. She would have to be absolutely perfect in her role for this to work. She dug her fingernails into her palms until her eyes began to tear from the pain of it. She ran forward a few steps and stumbled with an audible gasp causing the pair to break quickly apart.

"I told you we'd get caught, James." Lyra hissed, instantly smoothing down her mussed uniform, while hiding behind him.

"It's just Lily. Are you all right there? You look a bit…ill." James instinctively stood in front of Lyra, knowing the wicked temper of his friend and waited.

"Y-you were late and I th-thought…I thought…" Lilly sniffed, grasping the straps of her bag while staring at the stone floor.

"Bollocks I completely forgot, look why don't you head to the kitchens and snag us a bite and I'll meet you there in a few minutes. I'd like to get Lyra back to her dorms." James smiled at her and Lily's façade almost cracked.

Instead, she turned on her heel and hurried away, heading straight for the dungeons with the false tears running down her cheeks. It didn't take her but a moment to be dragged into the Slytherin Common Room by an irate Jarek. Lily could always depend on him to stand up for her, which she appreciated and used to her advantage whenever possible.

"What happened? Are you all right? You never cry, you best tell me, Lily." Jarek gripped her arms tightly resisting the urge to shake her.

They had bonded over summers spent at the Malfoy's Manor, mocking their numerous cousins. Their relationship had flourished and for a time, Penelope had been hopeful Lily would find a bit of happiness with Jarek. Those thoughts were quickly dashed when it had become apparent Jarek and Coraline were more than friends. Penelope had been quite put out when she discovered them snogging in the garden during the summer of their fifteenth birthdays.

"J-James was late to study and…" Lily sniffled dramatically, choking on a sob, "I went to see if h-he forgot and he and Lyra were…" Lily didn't have the chance to finish her practised speech before Jarek was rushing from the common room.

She wiped her eyes, straightened her uniform, and slowly made her way toward the Room of Hidden Things. She kept her head downcast and fingered her Prefect badge which was the only thing that allowed her to be out of the dorms past curfew.

Lily managed a small smile when she entered the room and spied the four-poster bed nestled in the corner and the loveseat before the crackling fire. She quickly spread out her Potion books, parchment, inkwell and quills before crossing her legs and reclining on the sofa. She rubbed her eyes, smearing the kohl lining her eyes for effect and even managed to unbutton a few pearl buttons on her blouse. She closed her eyes for a moment to rest before James came bursting into the room.

Lily gasped, taking in the fresh bruise on James cheek and the rip in shirt and almost felt a pang of regret. Instead of ruminating on such emotions, she grasped his hand and led him to the sofa. James followed her silently, allowing her to inspect his bruises and scrapes.

He hadn't expected to come across an angry Jarek. James hadn't been able to say a word in his defence before Jarek was shoving him into the hard stone walls of the castle. While James had never had a close friendship with the Slytherin, he thought Jarek would be more accepting of his relationship with Lyra, but he was wrong. He vaguely remembered well-aimed punches with angry hissed words demanding he stay away from her. James didn't defend himself, instead, letting the boy pummel him senseless. With last kick, Jarek spat at him for making Lily cry.

James felt particularly bad after hearing that. He'd expected a bit of backlash from Jarek, hell Aunt Hermione had warned him of such, but he never thought of Lily. James knew Lily was a bit enamoured with him, but he knew something she didn't, which was why he looked out for her the way he did. She was a pretty girl and at one time he had even entertained the thought of pursuing her but Aunt Hermione and Penelope had quickly quashed that idea.

They didn't know he had overheard them of course and he wished to keep it that way. They were worried for her and kept mentioning an odd quality concerning her eyes, not that he'd ever witnessed anything amiss. James had avoided Lily for a bit, trying to come to terms with the idea of a sister and it had hurt her more than she was willing to admit.

"Why don't you like me?" Lily's petulant voice broke him out of his stupor, his green eyes widening as he saw Lily unbuttoning her blouse.

James averted his eyes, shoving the insistent hand off his knee. He was uncomfortable and wished nothing more than to leave, but he was overcome with a wave of dizziness. Lily sidled into his side, toying with the buttons on his ripped shirt and James swallowed hard.

"Lily, I like you just fine." He deftly removed her hands and snatched the bottle of Butterbeer from the coffee table.

"You don't like me as much as you like Lyra." Lily crooned, hiding the small smirk behind her hand.

"Lily, that's completely different. Please put your blouse back on, it's indecent." James took a large swallow of his Butterbeer, ignoring the slight aftertaste.

"Why is it different? Why aren't I good enough? You were my friend first and then she came along with her blonde hair and her goody-goody books and I didn't exist any longer." Lily pouted prettily, thrusting her bra-clad breasts forward after dropping her blouse onto the floor.

James finished his Butterbeer quickly, shaking his head to clear the haze but seemingly trapped. He couldn't help but stare at the lightly tanned thighs, which were being exposed while Lily pushed up her skirt and removed her white knee socks. He didn't push her away when she straddled his lap and all he could think about was how she would taste.

Lily gently took his hands in hers and placed them on her bum, rocking into him. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, his jaw, and his neck while wrapping her arms around his neck. She nipped his earlobe and gasped upon feeling his large hands kneading her bum.

"Gods Lily, you're driving me mad. This is wrong on so many levels but all I can think about it how much I love you. You've done something haven't you?" James groaned, suddenly completely hypnotized by Lily's breasts.

The little voice entrapped in his mind was berating him, shouting at him really, but he couldn't stop. James gripped the flesh on her hips, dragging his palms across her ribs until her breasts filled his hands. He groaned as his trousers tightened, yanking down the cups of her lacy bra, and burying his face in her cleavage.

"What's a little Amortentia between friends James?" Lily knew he was completely under her spell when he allowed her to lead him to the four-poster bed.

She pushed him onto his back and climbed up his body after removing her short, plaid skirt. James ripped off the remnants of his shirt and dragged her down on top of him. He attacked her throat while his hands slid down her knickers and removed her bra. He couldn't think, he didn't want to think. James only wanted to allow himself to be consumed by his love.

"Gods you're so beautiful. We've wasted so much time." James couldn't help but to roll Lily onto her back, his eyes an unrecognizable shade of darkness.

Lily squirmed while he scrutinized her nudity, suddenly unsure, but James wouldn't allow her a moment to breathe. He quickly settled himself between her thighs and grasped her breasts in eager hands, his lips covering her dark nipple, sucking hard.

"J-James, slow down love." Lily was caught between the ache between her legs and the worry of the situation, her body battling her mind.

"I can't Lily. I love you so much, I've got to have you." James had managed to shimmy out of his slacks, his hands on her thighs while he stared at her.

James licked his lips and dragged his hands slowly down Lily's thighs. Her hands covered her sex quickly, but James quickly tore them away. He captured her hands easily in his, allowing his free hand to explore her moist folds.

"We'll always be together. I want you to have my children. I'm going to marry you, tomorrow, I swear it."

"Oh James, just imagine how powerful we could be together." Lily moaned, her head thrashing on the crisp sheets. This was everything she'd ever wished and more.

James kissed her blush lips hard and wrenched off his plaid boxers. He peppered her breasts with kisses while he guided himself to her entrance. He couldn't help but to smile at her, overwhelmed with the idea Lily was his forever.

"Of course we'd be brilliant Lily, after all, you are my sister." James grasped Lily's hips and slid into her warm cavern, breaking through her barrier with a single thrust.

Lily blinked hurriedly, attempting to process the words James had spoken through the slight ache between her legs. James thrust slowly, moaning into her throat. She allowed her body to be manipulated as his speed increased and swallowed hard.

"Y-your sister?"

"Oh yes, the best sister to ever exist. You're absolutely magnificent. So bloody tight, I could stay here forever. No wonder your mother never told you." James shuddered above her, emptying himself and collapsing on her luscious breasts.

Lily blinked rapidly, gasping in great lungfuls of air, her stomach rolling with nausea. She moved to shove James off her body and discovered she was alone. Her bright green eyes surveyed the space and she stared down at her fully clothed body.

The door to the Room of Hidden Things burst open and in stumbled James with a terrible purplish bruise beneath his eyes, blood on his knuckles and a rather large tear in his shirt. Lily instantly leapt from the sofa, snatched the bottles of Butterbeer and threw them directly into the fire.

"You bastard. You bloody knew. You've bloody known this entire time and you didn't have the bollocks to fucking tell me?" Lily lashed out at James, shoving him hard until the castle stone dug into his back.

"I-I don't know what you mean, Lily." James stammered, wishing he had never left the tower.

"Are you sure about that….brother?" Lily's green eyes flashed with rage and James swore he saw the barest hint of red, but quickly brushed off such thoughts. "I can't be here. I can't breathe. You've betrayed me. You've all betrayed me."

Lily left everything except her wand behind and ran from the Room of Hidden Things. She stumbled down the empty corridors, sobbing so loudly the portraits took cover lest she shout a spell in their direction. Lily finally collapsed in front of the ominous gargoyle that just so happened to nonchalantly open the hidden door, causing the stairs to appear.

Lily dragged her exhausted body onto the bottom stair and closed her eyes, wishing the castle would swallow her whole. Instead, she was encased in darkness, feeling as if she were spinning until she lay at the feet of none other than Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.

"Ms Weasley, I've been expecting you. Come on then, we'll have a cup of tea. There's much we need to discuss."

"Wait." Lily held up her hand, begging her mother to give her a bit of much needed space. "It's true, it's really true. Harry Potter is my father. James is my brother. If it weren't for some horrid little spell, which divested Harry of his faculties, I wouldn't even exist. Is that why I am the way I am? Is that why I'm so bloody angry?" Lily smashed the remnants of her tea onto the floor with shaking hands.

"Ms Weasley…" Minerva McGonagall tread carefully not wishing to further upset the distraught witch.

"I'm not even a Weasley! I'm a bloody Potter. I knew I was different. I always suspected, I mean look at me and then look at my siblings. I don't look a bloody thing like them! Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Lily love." George strode forward and grasped his daughter's hands, searching her green eyes. "You're my daughter. You've always been my daughter and that will never change. I was there for every moment. I felt you move. I watched you be born. I held you when you cried. I changed your nasty little nappies. I taught you to walk and I couldn't love you anymore. Blame me if you must. I couldn't bear the thought of sharing you. You've always been mine." George stroked Lily's cheek, brushing away the influx of tears.

"Y-you really mean it? You're not just taking the piss?" Lily clutched George's forearms desperately, craving validation for her very existence.

George embraced her, pressing Lily's head into his chest, holding her tight. He rocked her gently, shushing her sobs. Penelope observed the pair, her heart swelling with love. She couldn't ask for more.

"I love you more than any woman I've ever met," George whispered in her ear, shoving Lily's hair off her face. "Just don't tell your mother…or your sister…or my mother. Let's just keep it between us Lily love."

Lily Weasley coughed and sputtered, her knees suddenly shaking as they refused to hold her weight. George kept a firm hold on his daughter, lowering her slowly to the ground, her head in the crook of his elbow. His face showed no surprise and Lily instantly panicked, attempting to force herself from his arms.

"Ms Weasley, please remain calm. This is all for the best really." Headmistress McGonagall swirled her wand over their heads, muttering an unknown incantation before vanishing their teacups.

"George? Is she alright? What's going on?" Penelope found herself tightly ensconced in Draco Malfoy's arms and she was quickly yanked back and bound to a flowered settee in the corner.

"Be still Pans," Hermione whispered, quickly kissing Penelope's brow.

It had been years upon years since the demise of Harry Potter and Hermione Malfoy was still the only person permitted to call Penelope Weasley, Pans. Their numerous owls over the years had only solidified their friendship and Hermione was quite glad the Weasley's had come home.

"How did you get here? What on earth is going on?" Penelope hissed, gasping when Hermione removed the thin gold chain hidden in her ruffled blouse, flashing a Time Turner before she stepped from her hiding place.

"We didn't have a choice Pans. The ramifications were astronomical and we had to do something. It's taken us a decade to determine the cause of it all. You don't know how difficult it was. I suspected from the first moment I laid eyes on her, but I couldn't be sure and I wasn't going to rush to conclusions based on assumptions."

"Granger love, you're rambling." Draco deftly removed Penelope's wand from her fist, while keeping a wary eye on Lily and George.

"Sorry, I've never really gotten over that," Minerva smirked at her former student, intensely studying the writhing brunette on the floor.

"Lily seduced James with Amortentia and discovered he's her brother during the…uhm…" Draco struggled for a moment before continuing, "defining moment if you will."

"Yes, exactly that. She was quite devastated but that wasn't the worst part. She had a child, which resulted from the union and the entire Wizarding World was in utter and complete shambles. The child in question was magically superior to even the Darkest Wizard we'd ever known and systematically destroyed everything we hold dear.

'We've tried everything. Merlin, I even travelled back to the time Harry was first hit with the curse, but nothing worked. I couldn't stop him and I think on some level I was afraid to stop him. It would have changed everything. You wouldn't have George, I wouldn't have Draco, and I couldn't do it. Please forgive me." Hermione lowered her head, ashamed of her behaviour but Penelope's hand patting her back alleviated her guilt.

"We can't have that, now can we Granger? So what then?"

"I did a bit of research and discovered The Purging Stone. It's little known magic, quite ancient really. I won't bore you with the details but it has the ability to remove dormant curses from afflicted witches and wizards but it must be done at the precise moment. Knowing Harry the way I did, he clung to the idea of love being the all-powerful magical cure-all. We paid George a visit as he loves Lily more than any other man does, and I thought that would be integral to the Stone workings. Don't look at me like that Pans, I didn't instruct him on what to say. We simply suggested he speak from the heart." Hermione wrung her hands and chewed her lip while George turned Lily's head.

"Mione, she's choking." George pounded Lily's back, a light sheen of sweat on his brow.

"It's fine Weasley. Lie Lily on her back, and step away. McGonagall, perhaps you should cast the Charm." Draco stood protectively in front of his wife, practically pinning her to his back with a forceful arm.

Headmistress McGonagall nodded curtly, clutching an ornately jewelled box in her withered hands. She placed it on the corner of imposing desk, nearest Lily and opened it slowly. She walked around the gasping witch three times slowly, watching Lily's lips fall open with a shudder.

"You brewed the tea with the Stone didn't you?" Penelope whispered, desperately squeezing George's hand until he winced.

The slow nod from the brunette witch in front of her answered her question while Penelope drew a shaky breath. She adored her daughter, regardless of her parentage. She'd only wished the best for her and hoped against hope the Gryffindor know-it-all Princess knew exactly what she was doing.

Thin, eerie black wisps escaped Lily's parted plump lips. It seemed they snapped as they hissed, intending to dive back into the witch, but McGonagall was always a fast draw. Numerous wisps swirled about Lily's head and Hermione held her breath. Their ends were still firmly lodged in Lily's throat, bringing them closer to the moment of truth.

"I can't hold them," Minerva growled, both hands firmly gripping her shaking wand.

The angry black wisps had formed a cloud, practically covering every inch of Lily in their desperation to return to the place they lived. The walls of the castle shook slightly, and the black cloud moaned loudly, ending with a growl. Minerva muttered 'Protego' over her guests in order to keep them safe from the vile curse, but Hermione broke through, spreading her arms wide.

"Leave her. Take me." She implored the snakelike mass, her voice trembling.

"Bloody Gryffindor." Draco snarled and shoved his wife into Penelope's arms, knowing the witch would hold his wife tight. "Come on then, I'm waiting."

Draco closed his eyes as they hovered near his face, studying him intently before wafting toward his wife. They vanished the Shield Charm as if it were nothing more than a nuisance, encircling her slowly before baulking at her abdomen. They snarled and snapped, turning toward Penelope and George.

"We'll take it. She's worth it. She's worth everything." It seemed the wisps were suddenly confused, unable to decide between their choices.

They wavered, pausing even, in their ominous perusal, which gave Headmistress Minerva McGonagall the opportunity she required. With a blinding flash of white light, the curse slammed into the jewelled box with an angry roar. The ancient witch slammed the lid shut, instantly binding it. She knew it wasn't safe to keep such an object within the walls of Hogwarts and had made arrangements for the Ministry to take possession of the item. Her shoulders sagged, her magic perilously drained and she stumbled into her plush desk chair.

"Again Granger? We're a bit old now wouldn't you think? Our eldest son is set to bloody graduate Hogwarts and here we are setting about to start over? We've already got five monsters. Are you trying to turn us into Weasley's?" Hermione remained silent, allowing her husband to rant a bit, knowing the moment would soon pass.

George and Penelope ignored the glowering Malfoy's in favour of dropping beside their daughter. Lily moaned softly and squeezed her mother's hand, causing tears to leap into Penelope's eyes. George kissed her brow, waiting with bated breath for her eyes to open.

"W-what happened?" Lily sputtered, immediately attempting to rise from her awkward position on the floor. "Why are they so angry? Why are you lot even here? I don't understand. I had an absolutely horrific dream and then I can't remember much of anything."

"HEADMISTRESS!" The pounding on the door silenced the room. The angry thudding continued until Minerva rolled her eyes and flicked her wand. A completely dishevelled James Potter stumbled into the room, his chest heaving and his green eyes flecked with worry. "It's Lily! She's run off and I…" James stopped, frowning deeply to see Lily on the floor with her parents.

"I haven't run off anywhere James Sirius Potter, how dare you insinuate such a thing!" Lily glowered at the wizard while she stumbled to her feet.

She swayed a bit and George was quick to offer his arm. Lily closed her eyes, sifting through the bits and pieces of memories quickly flitting through her mind's eye. Penelope forced her daughter into a nearby chair, sighing with more than a bit of relief when Lily's eyes were finally clear even in the throes of anger.

"How was I to know? Between Blaise and Jarek shouting and beating me, I didn't have much chance to scour the castle for you. Bloody Alice is the one who said you'd left, but she was too busy snogging Alex Wood. You'll be glad to have missed it."

"James, shut up. Why on earth were Blaise and Jarek beating you?" James swallowed hard, actively avoiding his honorary aunt's burning gaze. "Wait, let me guess. Jarek caught you snogging Lyra." Lily laughed upon James Potter's face turning a vile shade of green.

"Lily…" The desperation in his voice was practically palpable and Hermione was having a difficult time containing her mirth.

"You're a terrible brother." Lily quipped with an easy sniff and the tension in the room instantly abated.

"Well, you're a completely oblivious sister. I mean, Zabini's been following you about like a lost puppy for bloody years and you still haven't noticed. What the bloody hell sort of wizard beats up a bloke for making his own sister cry?" James sat beside Lily and punched her shoulder, with a small smile.

"Should have learned how to fight proper. Can't even defend yourself…and you call yourself a wizard? Shame."

"Children, children, it is entirely too late to have these sorts of conversations here. Get out. Go to your dorms. Wait, on second thought, perhaps the Weasley's would prefer Lily accompany them home for the weekend? It might behoove them to have James tag along as well. Merlin knows I could use a bit of peace." Minerva dropped her head into the crook of her elbow and waved away her guests.

The Weasley's, the Malfoy's, and a Potter escaped the Headmistress's quarters before she hexed all of them. They easily traversed the corridors and soon enough they stood before the impressively large entryway.

"James, your mother wouldn't mind if you…" George stopped, instantly wary if only due to the furious blush decorating James Potter's cheeks.

"It's fine, George. Draco and I have had guardianship of him for ages now. We spoke to his mother and step-father and decided it was in all of our best interests." Hermione ruffled the young wizard's hair with obvious affection and a quick peck on the cheek.

"Aunt Hermione is having another Malfoy," James whispered to Lily, not quite as quiet as he thought and it reverberated down the castle corridor.

"Thanks for that James. You might as well have just informed Peeves." Hermione groaned into Draco's lapel, forcing his arms around her.

"Aren't they too old for that?" Lily inquired with an arched ebony eyebrow and a quick glance at the Malfoy's.

"Apparently not. Come on then, I'm famished." James and Lily strode out into the dead of night, arm in arm as if it were something they had always done.

"They adapted quickly now didn't they?" George mused before bending to place a small kiss on his wife's lips.

"James has known for ages. Hermione and I were certain he overheard us discussing it years ago. Lily quite liked the idea of a wizard pining after her and seeing her relationship with James hasn't really changed will do her a world of good. Thank you…for giving us our daughter." Penelope willed her tears to remain in place, offering Draco and Hermione a tremulous smile.

"Aw Pans, she was never really gone."

"I'd rather discuss the impending arrival of another Malfoy…" Draco interjected, still slightly perturbed with his wife, despite the previous events.

"Oh hush, it's not as if I've done it by myself. We've really got to get home. I'm sure your son is pitching a fit."

"Why is he's my son when he's wicked? Leo is a delightful child. In fact, he's the only one to inherit your hair, poor thing, so really you should love him best." Draco winked at George over Hermione's head with a slow smile.

"You're quite right, Malfoy. Perhaps I'll finally get a Gryffindor out of the lot, though I do hope this next one is a girl." Hermione sighed into his side, suddenly overcome with an almost overwhelming wave of emotion.

Draco sensed her unease, immediately burying his face in her curls, holding her tight. Hermione clung to him desperately, allowing herself to sob until her inner turmoil was finally abated. She wiped her face on his robes and pulled back to look into his familiar grey eyes.

"I love you," Hermione whispered with a quiet sort of desperation. It tugged at Draco's heartstrings and he couldn't help but kiss her.

"I would never be able to make it without you, Granger, and I'm thankful I didn't have to struggle for too long." Draco sighed, gently stroking her cheek, refusing to entertain the very notion there was a singular tear trailing down his cheek.

"You lot will really have to explain to us what on earth happened…" George hated to interrupt such a tender moment, but his curiosity always did get the best of him.

"Weasley, that's another story for another day." Draco sighed, wrapping both arms around his wife and resting his chin on her head.

"Malfoy, Hermione…you've got to give me something…" George whined despite his wife constantly pulling on his hand.

Hermione lifted her head from the safety of Draco's chest and stared deep into George Weasley's eyes. He swallowed hard, suddenly a bit terrified of the witch. He had always had a healthy respect for her temper and never wished to be on the wrong side of her wand. George suspected he had probably stepped in it, based on the darkening of Hermione's brown eyes and took a step backwards.

"George, leave them be. It's been a ridiculously long, emotionally draining sort of day." Penelope pleaded, desperately grasping his hands in hers, attempting to drag him into the night.

"It isn't a long drawn out story, George. It's quite simple really." Hermione blinked slowly, snuggling back into Draco's arms.

"Is it really then? I find it hard to believe everything you've orchestrated was so ridiculously simple you can't even be bothered to tell me." George huffed with the slightest trace of Weasley indignation, which would have made her smile under any other circumstance.

"It wasn't me, it was Draco. He did everything and he did it perfectly. I'm sure I would have been quite proud of him. He's a magnificent wizard." She smiled up at her husband, her heart clenching in her chest when she saw the unadulterated pain in his crystal clear grey eyes.

"Malfoy? Wait, he did all this? Why didn't you do it? I don't understand. You're Hermione Granger…er Malfoy, sorry. You're the witch everyone bombards when they haven't the answers. Why was Draco Malfoy in charge of it all?" George was moments away from losing his temper, but that wasn't his goal.

He didn't want to be angry it was the incredible bouncing ferret that had saved not only his family but also the entire Wizarding World. George Weasley simply wanted the tiniest of morsels to appease his curiosity for the time being before he set out to enjoy his family. His jaw clenched and he couldn't help but feel out of sorts while the Malfoy's held a silent conversation.

Hermione turned toward him slowly, keeping a firm hold on her wizard's arms. Her fingers dug into his forearms and George noticed they never quite stopped touching. An ominous feeling fisted in his chest and his stomach rolled. He was no longer sure he wanted an answer, but it was too late.

"I was dead, of course."