A/N: Hello my loves. This is it. My baby is complete. The story has come to an end and I can't begin to thank y'all enough for sticking with me. I'll spare you the long spiel. But seriously, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

XoXo,

Elle.

Chapter 26

Epilogue

Four Years Later - September 1, 2005

"Mum! Cassius is trying to eat my wand!" Tobias' voice rang through the manor and Draco laughed softly as he left Tabitha's room to follow the echo.

"I've got it, love. You just finish getting Tabby ready to go. We've got to leave soon, or he'll be late," Draco called over his shoulder as he left.

He could hear Hermione groan in the background as she bent over to tie Tabby's shoe. Their little princess hadn't quite managed that, even at almost six years old. "Please make sure Tobias has everything packed. And put a timed locking charm on Zorro's cage. I don't want that owl getting out and flying around King's Cross. I don't understand how a bird can be so damned smart as to know how to pick a lock."

"Will do, love!" Draco yelled from down the hall. He turned the corner into Tobias' personal library. "Cass, give your brother his wand. They are not playthings." The little boy with Draco's grey eyes, platinum blond hair, and Hermione's dark skin and curls looked up at him with a mischievous grin. Draco knew that look - he was going to run for it. Draco immediately whispered a spell, his hand having already been on his wand. Cassius floated into the air, giggling as his arms and legs flailed wildly. "Cassius Blaise Malfoy. I will not tell you again. Wands are not toys, you will give Tobias back his wand and you will not pick it up again. Or so help me, I will find a way to turn you into a squib."

He watched as his youngest son's smile turned into a pout and lowered Cassius back to the ground. The child was a devil in the flesh, a hellion on two feet, wickedly smart for two years old. But Draco supposed that's what you got when you crossed the Malfoy bloodline with the brightest witch of their age. Merlin help them all when Cassius entered Hogwarts. Hopefully Tabby could keep him in hand while she was there.

Cassius held out the Hornbeam wand to Tobias and ran off crying, no doubt to find Hermione. Tobias sighed and tucked his wand into the holder Hermione had made for him on the band of his Muggle jeans. "He took it right out of my holster."

"It's okay, bud. We all know what a little troublemaker he is. You've got everything packed? Even your lucky Hippogriff feather? You know, they're starting Quidditch tryouts at first year this year." Draco grinned down at the boy. He'd grown a lot over the last four years, having just turned eleven in July. Draco had taught him how to fly, how to catch the Snitch, and even how to play the other positions as well, just in case seeking wasn't his talent. Tobias enjoyed the sport in general and said he'd be happy in any position.

Tobias pointed to his open trunk and grinned. "Right on top. But do we really have to use school brooms as first years? I heard they were lousy old Nimbus 2001s. They don't even make Nimbuses any more." His nose turned up then. He wasn't happy with having to leave his Firebolt Excelsior behind.

Draco chuckled quietly, a quick memory surfacing of when those Nimbus 2001 brooms were bought. "You do. But I heard a rumor that the school's entire fleet had been replaced this year by an anonymous donor." Of course, the general public would think it was anonymous. The headmistress would know better. Draco couldn't help it. Perhaps part of his father did still influence him - only the best for his kids. "Now, if you're finished, lock up your trunk. I've got to lock up Zorro's cage. Your mum would hex me if I forget."

"But I already locked it…." Tobias trailed off and Draco looked over to see him grinning. "Oh...you don't want him escaping on the train."

"No, we don't. You know how snippy he can get around strangers. I just hope he doesn't mutilate the other students' owls or the school owls. I swear, he has it out for everyone and thing but this family. I guess that's a good thing." Draco leaned down to look at the jet black owl in the cage. Its piercing green eyes stared intently at Draco as it gave a soft hoot. "Yeah, we love you too, Z."

XxX

A rough three hours later, the tired and road-weary Malfoy family were arriving at King's Cross Station. Cassius was screaming in the backseat as the car stopped and Draco looked about ready to throw a silencing spell at him. But Hermione turned to her youngest child and silenced him with a look. Cassius had the nerve to look chagrined. "You know better than to act that way. I know you don't like those straps on that seat. But you have to wear them. It's the law."

Draco had gotten out of the car to get Tobias' things from the boot, and the two older kids were filing out now. Hermione unbuckled her belt and made her way from the car with some effort, twisting and turning to get through the door. The car next door had parked too close to the line, which meant it was going to be hard for her to get Cassius out. "Draco, babe. You couldn't have gone around to another spot? It's too close over here. You're going to have to get him out. There's not enough room."

"I've got him, love." Draco smiled understandingly at her frustration and opened the door on his side and wandlessly freed Cassius from his child seat. Cassius was climbing across to him in a heartbeat and out of the car. Hermione laughed and shook her head as she stood at the rear of the car with Tobias and Tabby.

"Should we go and get a trolley first? For your trunk?" Hermione asked Tobias.

The boy shook his blond curls and smiled up at Hermione, "No, mum. Papa and I got the one with wheels and it's light as a charm."

Hermione was confused for a moment, but caught on, remembering. The trunk was made with lightening and some extending charms. "Oh, right. Well then, let's go. We only have half an hour to get onto the platform."

The young family made their way to the train station, looking every bit the normal family in their Muggle clothing, except for the menacing black owl in the cage that Tabitha was carrying. Thankfully, though, Hermione had thought to put a Muffliato on the cage as well.

The walk through the station was a crowded one and they could see several other wizarding families weaving their way through the muggles. At the entrance to Platform 9 ¾ , the families were milling about, seemingly waiting for their trains on either platforms nine or ten. But in reality, they were waiting on their turn to enter.

When it was the Malfoys' turn, Hermione turned to a nervous-looking Tobias and smiled. "Did you see how the other families were doing it?" While she waited for him to nod, she ran her fingers through his hair. "Good. I'll send your Papa through first with Cass. Watch him close. Then I'll follow through with Tabitha. Alright?"

"Okay, mum." Tobias replied, the nervous causing his voice to waver. Hermione could understand. She was nervous her first time through onto the platform, too. She nodded to Draco, who gave Tobias a wink as he walked calmly and briskly at the brick barrier, passing right through without a problem.

Hermione could see Tobias swallow visibly before he gave her a nervous look and took off at a near jog. Soon, he hit the barrier and disappeared, just as Draco had. "Alright, Princess. Our turn." She squeezed Tabby's hand and walked them toward the barrier. The familiar sensation of warm water passed over her, and she heard the whistle of the Hogwarts Express echoing loudly around the platform.

The boys were nowhere in sight, but she knew they were probably on the train, putting Tobias' trunk in a compartment. Hermione bent to the side and kissed Tabitha's head before grunting in discomfort. "Okay, little guy, I hear ya. Wrong way." She gave her large stomach a rub.

"Everything okay, mummy?" Tabitha looked up at Hermione, her small hand coming to rest on Hermione's swollen stomach, right where her little brother had been kicking. She'd always had a connection with her little brother and could get him to calm down when Hermione or Draco couldn't - even when Hermione was having vicious bouts of morning sickness.

"He just didn't like the way I bent over. That's all." She smiled at Tabby. "What are we going to name him? Hmm?" Hermione and Draco had discussed naming their newest addition. When they'd named Cassius, it had been a family affair. Everyone had been in on it. But it had been largely Tobias' choice and in the end, they had went with one of his names. So Hermione thought that the choice should be Tabby's and Draco agreed.

Tabitha pressed the side of her face to Hermione's stomach and wrapped her arms as far as they would go around Hermione's waist. "I think I like Elijah."

"Elijah sounds like a good, strong name, Princess," Draco called as he and the boys arrived back from the train. "Tobias, what do you think? Do you like Elijah?"

Tobias came over to place his hand next to his sister's head and smiled up at Hermione. "I think Elijah is great!" Just then the whistle sounded again and he jumped, a slightly panicked look filling his eyes.

Hermione smiled down at her precious boy. "I know it's scary, my Prince. But trust me, this will be the most fun and important day of your life. It will change everything, for the better. Make friends, have fun and be yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. I love you so much."

"I love you too, mum." Tobias wrapped his arms around Hermione's rounded belly and hugged her tightly. Then he looked up with worry. "But what about when the baby is born?"

"We've already arranged that with Headmistress McGonagall. Your Papa or Uncle Harry will send her an owl and she's going to Floo you to St. Mungo's. You'll be there for his arrival. I promise." Hermione carefully bent over and kissed Tobias' forehead. "Don't fret, my Prince. Have a great first term, we will see you at Christmas. Or when Elijah decides to make his appearance. Whichever happens first."

Tobias nodded at her and stood on his toes to hug her neck and kiss her cheek before walking over to hug Tabby. Hermione stood by Draco, smiling as the two siblings exchanged a few quiet words. "I can't imagine our lives without them," Draco said quietly, adjusting a now sleeping Cassius on his shoulder.

"I can't either. They have been such a gift to us. I'm going to miss him so much, Draco. That's a piece of my heart getting on that train in a few minutes. What am I going to do without him at home?" Hermione asked, one hand resting over her heart, the other rubbing her stomach.

Draco chuckled quietly, "You'll soon have a newborn to look after. You'll be so busy you won't know which way is up."

They both watched as Tobias kissed a crying Tabby on the forehead and hugged her tight, as another warning whistle echoed around the platform. Draco passed Cassius to Hermione, performing a feather light charm on him first, to make it easier on Hermione. She watched as he walked over to the young boy who was growing up on them. Tabby walked over to Hermione and wrapped her arms around her mum's waist as best she could and cried into her side as Hermione stroked her hair. "It's going to be okay, Princess. You'll see him in a few months."

Draco crouched down, coming eye level with Tobias and began talking to him quietly. The hustle and bustle around them made it impossible for Hermione to hear what they were saying, but she knew Draco was giving him a pep talk. After a few minutes, Draco rose, ruffled Tobias' hair and sent him on his way to the train.

Hermione's heart leapt into her throat and she kept stroking Tabby's hair as Draco resumed his spot beside her and took Cassius back. "He'll be fine, love. And for the record, he thinks he'll be in Ravenclaw." Hermione could only nod, the lump in her throat too thick to speak through as Tobias looked back to wave at them from the doorway of the train. She waved at him and blew him a kiss, her heart squeezing in her chest as her eyes filled with tears. Her whisper floated through the air.

"I love you, my little Prince. Until I'm grey and old."

The end.