DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews in Chapter 16. I'm sad to say, this is the end of "Draco Malfoy and the Half-Blood Prince's Daughter". I regret writing Adele badly. My intention at first was to create an original character like Hermione, for Severus Snape and Remus Lupin. But I had to change Adele's personality for Draco and Hermione. I had to ask myself: "What would Hermione hate the most? What could be the reason Draco did not end up in Azkaban?" So, I had to make Adele something else. Forgive me. But reading your reviews about Adele, makes me think I did a good job.

Thank you for those who supported this fan fiction. I will continue to write more. Please stand by for another unusual time-travel story.

Chapter 17

"Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those who sinned against us."

-Matthew 6:12

.

September 19, 2004

(the present)

"Mummy?"

Hermione felt a slight shake on her shoulder. She wanted to open her eyes and respond, but she was still sleepy. She felt really, really tired.

"Scorp, let Mummy sleep for a while, all right?" came her husband's gentle voice.

"But I want to greet her," whispered Scorpius. Hermione felt the sadness in her son's voice, so she gathered her strength to fight the sleepiness. She rolled to the other side and opened her eyes.

"Good morning," she said weakly, finding the most beautiful face she had ever seen: the face of her son. He had platinum blonde but curly hair. He had his father's beautiful grey eyes but had Hermione's button-like nose. The rest - the shape of his face, his lips and eyebrows were Draco's.

"Mummy!" exclaimed her four-year-old son happily. "Happy birthday!" Scorpius's greeting was followed by a gentle kiss on her forehead.

She smiled and cupped her son's face. "Thank you, Scorp. I love you," she replied affectionately.

"I love you, Mummy!" Scorpius buried his face on her neck, hugging her. Then, he pulled away. "I baked a cake for you, Mummy!" he said proudly.

"Really?Thank you, honey! Daddy helped you?" she asked, running her fingers in his beautiful curls.

Scorpius shook his head. "Nana helped me," he replied, referring to Hermione's mother, Helen. Scorpius calls Hermione's parents 'nana' and 'papa' while Narcissa Malfoy was simply 'gran' and Severus Snape was 'grandad'.

"Come on, Mum."

"Give me five minutes, honey, will you? I feel so tired."

Scorpius looked sad and ran a hand on her bump. "Okay, Mummy. Tell her to stop kicking you. I don't want you to get tired."

Hermione and Draco laughed and assured their son that his sister was not 'kicking mummy on purpose'.

"Happy birthday, love," greeted Draco who pulled her to him when Scorpius already left the room.

Hermione rested her head on his chest. "Thank you. I'm twenty-five. I feel old."

Draco chuckled. "I like older women," he said naughtily.

She rolled her eyes and punched him playfully. "Prat!"

But Draco pulled her even closer. "You're only twenty-five, Hermione. You're older, yes, but you're wiser and... sexier." He said the last part in a seductive tone, running a hand on her hip.

"I'm fat," she said with a pout.

"You're pregnant," he corrected with a kiss on her forehead. "And you're sexier when you're carrying my child."

Hermione smiled. Draco always made her feel good, especially when she thinks she's not at her best because of pregnancy. And after six years of marriage, he was still madly in love with her. In return, Hermione loved him even more and swore that she would never leave him again.

"I don't feel good," she mumbled to his chest.

"What do you need?" asked Draco with pure concern in his voice.

"Sex," she mumbled again.

"Excuse me?" Hermione could not see his face, but she was sure that he quirked an eyebrow.

"I need sex," she repeated without hesitation, and louder.

Draco laughed. "Who am I to deny you? You've got me under your spell, Granger."

"Stop talking and make love to me already!" she demanded.

"Bossy Gryffindor!" And Draco rolled until she was beneath him. A few moments later, she was moaning and singing Draco's name.

.

September 19, 1999

(five years ago)

For the first time since Christmas, Hermione and Draco's home were full of people. The whole Dumbledore's Army (sans the Weasleys) were all present at Hermione's birthday celebration. They also took the opportunity to announce Daphne's pregnancy, because Hermione didn't really like being the center of attention. In the first place, she did not want a big birthday celebration, but when Cissy learned that Daphne was pregnant, she suggested they throw a party to celebrate two lives.

"Thank Merlin for you, Hermione. And to Severus, too!" groaned Daphne who looked tired, sitting in an armchair.

"Thanks for the potion for nausea, Mione," Harry said gratefully beside Daphne, holding his wife's hand.

Hermione smiled and patted Daphne's knee. "You're welcome. Happy to help."

"Lucky, we have two of the best potioneers in Britain around," said Draco proudly, wrapping an arm around her waist and dropping a kiss on her head.

"I'm not one yet a full-fledged potioneer. Father is," she replied bashfully.

Harry rolled his eyes. "So modest. You're the best potioneer at St. Mungo's, even better than those who are training you there! Your works have been featured in Potions Weekly!"

She chuckled. "Admit it then, you're the best Auror of your generation!"

Harry blushed and shook his head. "I'm not."

"Gryffindors!" groaned Daphne. Then, her facial expression softened when she saw something behind Hermione. "You have a visitor."

Hermione turned around and saw the wizard she had been waiting for.

"Father!" she exclaimed happily and walked towards him.

Severus Snape hugged his only daughter, not caring that there were at least twenty people in the drawing-room, watching them. "Happy birthday." When he pulled away, he gave her a present wrapped in red and gold.

"Thank you! I'll open this later. Come on," she said, taking her father's hand. "Mum and Dad are in dining. They want to hear about your book!"

.

"So, how is she?"

Hermione stopped in her tracks and listened. She was about to get Harry and Remus on the porch when she heard Harry's voice.

"She's recovering, little by little," she heard Remus reply.

"It's been two months since I saw her."

"On your wedding day," quipped Remus. "She needs time. They both need time."

"Do you think it's for the best?"

"Time and space heal all wounds," was Remus's only reply.

Hermione heard Harry sigh. "She wanted Hermione to accept her as her mother. She wanted her daughter's forgiveness, but she's not yet ready. It still pains Hermione whenever she remembers everything that's happened - the adoption, the manipulation of time to create the engagement contract, waking up in St. Mungo's and suddenly learning that the Grangers aren't her real parents. Adee made it sound like: 'Hey, Hermione, I'm your real mother. I had to give you to the Grangers for your own safety. Now Draco needs our help, so marry him as soon as possible.'"

Silence. If the situation were different, Hermione would've laughed.

"I know my wife. She's sorry. She regrets the things she did."

Hermione heard Harry sigh. "So, she's in Germany right now? And you travel every day by Portkey?"

"I need to be with her. She's my wife, the love of my life. But she does not want me to stop teaching because she knows how much I am loving it."

"Aunt Adee is a loving person. She just doesn't show it the right way sometimes. I saw the memories in the Pensieve. She cared about you and Dad too much and I really feel sorry for the things my mum did to her. I couldn't believe Mum..."

"She saw Severus's book this morning, by the way. She was jealous."

Hermione frowned and went to her and Draco's room to open the present her father gave to her earlier. She tore the wrapping and found a new potions book written by Severus Snape. She opened the pages, looking for something - the reason why Adele was jealous. And there, she saw it; Severus Snape's dedication.

For my daughter, Hermione, with love. Always.

Love. Always.

Severus Snape could love without conditions; without manipulations; without bad intentions. She smiled and hugged the book close to where her heart is.

But now that she and her father were catching up and building a good relationship, could she do the same for Adee?

Hopefully, someday, she could find it in her heart to forgive the woman who carried her for nine months; the woman who gave her to two wonderful people; - the people that showed her what it was like to love and be loved.

.

December 19, 1999

(almost five years ago)

Hermione was staring at the two faint pink lines. Her heart was pounding faster, but she couldn't contain the smile in her face and the tears in her eyes.

She was going to be a mother. Draco's going to be a father. They did not plan this, but she knew, since last year, that it can happen anytime. Pregnancy, that is. She never used any contraceptives. With Draco, she felt like she was ready for anything.

"Hermione?" came her father's voice. "Are you all right? What's taking you so long?"

Hermione suddenly remembered that she was in her father's new flat and that they were brewing together in their potions lab before she felt nauseous. She was still a trainee at St. Mungo's, but will be a full-fledged potioneer next year. Now, given her current situation, it looks like she has to take a break from potion-making and give way for her pregnancy.

With Draco's wealth and her status as the brightest witch of her age, her career could wait.

She opened the door and greeted her father with a smile. "Can you Floo Mum and Dad and Cissy? I have something to tell you."

Severus Snape frowned. "What about Draco?"

She shook her head and squeezed her father's arm. "I just thought of a perfect Christmas gift for Draco."

He eyed the thing in her hands. "Why are you telling us first?"

Hermione laughed. "Because I know I cannot keep this secret from you! We're working together, almost every day!"

Severus smiled and kissed her forehead. "Sit down and relax. I'll summon the other parents."

She sighed and hugged her father. "You're the best, father."

.

August 19, 2000

(four years ago)

"Scorpius Granger-Malfoy. You are going to be a heartbreaker with your good looks and, undoubtedly, intelligence."

Hermione opened her eyes and found Draco bent over their newborn son's crib, talking to him animatedly.

"Your mother is the brightest witch of our generation, and me, your dad... Well, I was second to your mum." He chuckled. "You're a Malfoy, but I won't teach you about the pure-blood crap my father taught me. You, my son, are going to be a great, Muggle-respecting wizard."

"Indoctrinating our child already?" she asked, getting up from the bed.

Draco turned to her with an affectionate smile. "Just telling him to respect the Muggles."

Hermione was about to say something, but there was a knock on the door. She fixed her robe and hair before Draco got up to answer the door. Soon, four people emerged into the room: her mum and dad, Cissy, and her father.

"Where's my grandson?" whispered Cissy. "Is my little scorpion awake?"

"Scorpion?" sneered Severus, which made Hermione chuckle.

"My dragon says he's called 'Scorpius'," replied Cissy proudly, peeking into the crib.

"And did I give my permission to name him 'Scorpius'?" Hermione teased Draco.

"He's a mini-me. He should be called 'Scorpius'," countered Draco who sat beside her on the bed, letting the new grandparents gather around the crib. "Scorpius Granger-Malfoy. Sounds perfect, right?"

"Scorpius William Severus Granger-Malfoy," she corrected, surprising everyone in the room, sans the newborn.

Hermione met her dad's eyes. "Sweetie, you don't have to..." he said rather emotionally. "Your double surname is enough."

She stood up and hugged her dad. "You're a great man and I will always be proud of you, Dad."

Her mum looked emotional, too and pulled her to a hug. "My sweet, sweet Hermione. I can't believe you're a mother now."

"Thanks for being the best mother, Mum. I want to be like you," she mumbled against her neck.

She met Severus's eyes. He was giving him a proud look. "I love you," he mouthed to her before taking Scorpius from Cissy's arms.

.

September 19, 2004

(the present)

"Mummy, Jamie's nana gave me a book!"

Draco looked up and saw his son showing Hermione a book given to him by Adele.

After more than five years, they all met Adele again. It was because Hermione asked Remus to come to her birthday celebration with Adele. The two witches greeted each other civilly earlier. James Potter II, Harry and Daphne's firstborn, introduced his grandmother Adele to Scorpius. He swore he saw the longing in Adele's eyes when she met Scorpius for the first time.

Hermione whispered something to Scorpius and Draco wondered what it was.

"Miss Lucy is kissing Uncle Adrian in the garden. Eeewww!" Draco heard James told Scorpius.

Lucy, Hermione's friend, was now teaching in a learning center for young witches and wizards who are not old enough to go to Hogwarts. She was Scorpius's teacher and was now dating her former celebrity crush, Adrian Pucey.

"We never kiss in front of Jamie," Daphne, who was sitting beside him, told everyone within the earshot, including Remus and Adele. "He said, kissing is 'yucky'."

"Bet you and Harry aren't giving each other chaste kisses," he commented with a smirk.

"Oh, come on, Malfoy! You're telling us that you and Hermione's kisses are innocent?" teased Harry.

"Mummy and Daddy's kisses are not yucky," quipped Scorpius, followed by Hermione. "Daddy, look at my family tree! It's our homework!" He showed him a long parchment with illustrations and names.

Above his name, 'Scorpius Granger-Malfoy', there were two names and pictures drawn using crayons. Written below the wizard's face with blonde hair, was 'Daddy - Draco Malfoy'. Beside was a picture of a witch with curly, brown hair and below was: 'Mummy - Hermione Granger-Malfoy'. Draco traced the line above his picture. There were pictures and the names of his parents. Under his father's name were the words: 'died: 1997'. Perhaps, he copied what was written on the family tapestry at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. His eyes searched for Hermione's parents. Above Hermione's picture were a man and a woman, both have brown hair and were wearing eyeglasses: Helen and William Granger. On the side, was another picture: a man with black hair, Severus Snape. Scorp wrote under Severus's name: 'grandpa'.

"Did you make this by yourself, Scorp?" he asked fondly.

"Yes, Daddy!" he replied proudly.

Hermione inspected their son's work and grabbed a crayon from Scorpius. "Here, Scorp," she pointed at the space beside Severus's picture. "Draw Mummy's other mother. I told you, Jamie's nana is also your gran, right?"

Scorpius looked up to Hermione. "Okay, Mummy." He draw another picture, but not before studying Adele's face. All of the adults around the table seemed to hold their breaths, except for Hermione who sent Adele a small smile.

Adele's eyes were glassy but she was smiling at Hermione.

"Finished!" declared Scorpius, flashing the parchment in front of Adele. "I have six grandparents!" he said happily. Then, he turned to Adele. "Can I call you 'Nana Adee'? Just like Jamie."

Adele looked like she was about to cry and reached out for the boy. She ruffled his curly blond hair. "Of course, Scorpius." Then, Adele turned to Hermione. "Thank you, Hermione."

"Of course."

Draco sighed in relief. There was no bitterness in Hermione's voice. Instead, she sounded rather sincere. And he waited for Hermione to say something to Adele. He knew it was coming. One would know if Hermione Granger welcomed you in her life if she asked you...

"Father is still in Germany. I'm wondering if you can brew me a potion for nausea? You see, I'm five months pregnant."

Despite the tears in her eyes, Adele beamed. "Sure! Do you need it now?"

Hermione smiled. "Tomorrow. Thank you, mother."

Draco reached for his wife's waist, as she was standing beside him. He pulled her close to him. Hermione, in return, wrapped an arm around his shoulders and kissed his forehead.

"I'm proud of you," he whispered to her neck.

"And I love you," she replied.

He ran a hand on her bump. "All is well?"

Hermione met his eyes and smiled. "All is well."

THE END