Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters, locations or prior storylines associated with it. That is all the intellectual property of the wonderful JK Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended, nor am I making any money from this story. I am just playing in her world.

The Four Horsemen © The Sexy Muggle Librarian

Chapter 34: Epilogue

The first stop that the Elementals made was to St. Mungo's. They walked into Ron's room, to find the man awake with Luna twined around him like a vine. Hermione smiled as she quickly ran her tests and discovered that his brain chemistry was back to normal. "Well, Ron. You are back to your old self," she proclaimed.

"Ronald awoke and all the nargals just left him alone," Luna said as she turned to look at them.

"How long have I been out?"

"Close to five months," Harry answered.

"Blimey. When can I get out of here, Mione?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "A few days. Your muscles have somewhat atrophied from lack of use, so you will have to perform some physical therapy and take an array of potions to get your muscles back in working condition."

Ginny wiped her eyes a bit. "Has anyone told Mum and Dad?"

"I sent an owl, Ginny," Luna said as a commotion began outside of the room.

"I am going to see my son!" Molly Weasley yelled.

Hermione sighed while Ron cringed. "I'll get her," the brunette offered and quickly left only to walk back in a few seconds later and push everyone out of the path to the bed.

"My Ron! My baby, you are finally awake!" Molly said shrilly as she ran into the room and quickly wrapped Ron in her arms, almost knocking Luna off the bed in the process. "I'm sorry, Luna dear."

"Oh, that's okay Mrs. Weasley. I understand your joy at having Ronald back."

Harry quickly motioned his hands to Ginny, knowing that the Weasley matriarch had not noticed them yet and they began to creep towards the door.

"Don't move one more inch Harry and Ginerva," Molly said without turning her head.

The two of them froze in place, identical looks of resignation on their faces.

Molly fussed over Ron for a few more minutes before turning her gaze on the other four people. "Hermione, Draco. Nice to see you, dears. Ginerva, you had better explain what is going on. The clock has had the three of you in mortal peril all night."

Harry, Hermione and Ginny cringed. They had forgotten about the Weasley's clock (which now featured Hermione as an honorary member). "Molly," Hermione said. "Let me begin. Harry needs to go back to the Auror office and make his report."

She sniffed. "Fine. Harry can leave, but the rest of you are staying," she said as she sank into the lone chair in the room.

Hermione nodded as Harry gave her a quick smile before making his escape. She quickly conjured three more chairs and began to relate the story. She watched Molly's face as she began with the kidnapping of Scorpius and continued to the unmasking and finally the defeat of the Four Horsemen, gasping loudly as she revealed their relation to Merlin.

"Oh my word," the older witch said as she finished the tale. "So, are they really gone?"

"Yes, Molly. They are truly defeated. Now, if you will allow us to go to get our rest, you can ask us all the questions you want once we've sleep. Draco must go and collect Scorpius as well."

"Oh, of course dear! I must go and let the rest of the family know as well," Molly said before wrapping each of them in a warm hug, causing both women to suppress giggles as Draco flinched.

Once she was gone, Ginny turned to Hermione. "You are the most fabulous person in the world. There is no one else that has the ability to head off a scolding from Molly Weasley like you do."

Hermione shrugged and said, "It's a gift really. But, I was also truthful. We need sleep and then we need to go collect Scorpius."

Draco nodded, the adrenaline from the battle beginning to wear off. "I'm knackered. Hermione, would you like to come back to the Manor?"

Hermione nodded and together they left the room, only to see Harry heading back towards them. "Go home and take Ginny with you," Hermione suggested as they walked by.

Harry just nodded wearily.

"Are you ready, love?" Draco asked as he leaned down to nuzzle her hair.

"Yes. Are you okay? I know that they all were your friends."

"I am, really. Pansy and Astoria's hearts were not in it and I barely recognized Blaise and Greg. They weren't my friends. My friends died a long time ago."

Hermione nodded as she wrapped her arms around him and Apparated them to Malfoy Manor, where after a quick wash, they fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.

It was the calling of birds outside that finally awoke the pair, well into the afternoon. Stretching like a cat, Hermione slowly opened her eyes, to find Draco blinking the sleep from his. "Hey," she said softly as she turned on her side.

"Hey," he said back, drawing her to his chest. "We should get up."

"Uh-uh. I wanna lie in bed."

Draco giggled. "I promise, we will have a proper lie-in soon, but…"

"You really want to get Scorpius back. Understood, love," Hermione returned as she slipped out of his grasp. "Do you still have that shampoo that I left over here?"

"No. The Elves took offence to it. They replaced it."

"Bugger. Do you know how long and hard I looked to find a shampoo that would actually make my hair behave?"

Draco laughed, the tension of the previous year sliding off of him finally. "Trust the Elves. If they brought it to you, it will make your old shampoo look like soap. I'll have Willa bring up some food and once we're done eating, we can leave."

Hermione nodded as she quickly slipped into the en-suite. She turned on the shower, knowing as much as she wanted a proper bath, that she would not delay the father-son reunion. She quickly washed herself and then grabbed the shampoo reluctantly. She had not been exaggerating when she had told Draco that it had taken her a long time to find the perfect shampoo. It took years, trying both Muggle and Wizarding products before she had finally settled down and she was hesitant to try anything else. With trepidation, she worked the shampoo into her hair and was amazed by the result. She could feel her locks getting silkier and more manageable and by the time she rinsed, she knew that she didn't have to use any conditioner. Amazing.

She walked back into the bedroom, to find Draco sitting at a small table with a brunch spread in front of him. He was perusing the Daily Prophet, scoffing as he read the articles. "Anything interesting?"

"Not really. No mention of anything out of the ordinary last night. I can't decide if that is good or bad. There was only a small footnote about the patients awaking at St. Mungo's."

Hermione pursed her lips as she sat and placed some fruit and toast on her plate. "I think that is good thing. Imagine how it would be if we were found out." She shuddered. "Thank Merlin Rita Skeeter is no longer in the picture."

Draco shuddered as well. "That woman is a cow," he said as he placed the paper to the side and served himself some eggs.

They ate quickly and silently, both feeling apprehension at the upcoming reunion and once done, Draco took a few minutes to clean up as well. When he walked out of the bathroom, Hermione felt a jolt of passion run through her. This was the Draco Malfoy she remembered. The poised, immaculately dressed businessman who was ready to take on the world and all the naysayers in it to prove that he had changed for the better. And he had. Hermione had come to realise that in the past year. The Draco Malfoy that she had gone to school with was gone and in his place was man that had captured both her heart and mind.

"Wow," she breathed. "I love you."

Draco smiled, seeing the awestruck look in her eyes. "I love you, too. I cannot imagine my life without you," he murmured into her hair as he wrapped her in a hug.

Hermione took a deep breath. "Let's go get your son back."

Draco just smiled as guided her to the table, where a ceramic pig rested. "Here, Pott…I mean Harry, sent this over. It's a Portkey to Upsir, Iceland." He quickly helped Hermione into her cloak before putting his own on. He waved his hand over the pig, saying the last part of the incantation to activate the Portkey. They grabbed the pig at the same time and both felt the familiar tug behind their navels. In a swirl of light, they landed in a snow covered paradise.

"Wow. It's beautiful here," Hermione said as she looked around.

Draco nodded as he grabbed her hand and began to pull her into the small town, craning his head around, trying to get a glimpse of Scorpius. Half a block later, he stopped and stared in amazement at the sight of his son in front of him. "He's grown so much," he whispered, his heart breaking at the time that he missed growing up.

Hermione looked at the boy, the spiting image of Draco and smiled. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go get your son."

Draco dropped her hand and broke into a run. Scorpius turned at the sound of his running footsteps. "Daddy!" the boy yelled in joy, running towards him.

Hermione watched the reunion with tears glittering in her eyes as man and boy embraced eat other.

"It is good to see them back together," a voice said beside her.

Hermione turned, to see Astoria standing there, her blonde hair shining in the sun. "Yes, it is. Thank you."

Astoria smiled. "It is I who owes the thanks. You were able to save both of them. I would have only been able to save one."

Hermione shook her head. "Do not underestimate yourself. After all, you managed to acquire the attention of Hades."

Astoria smiled softly. "He is a good…man? God? I'm not exactly sure yet. But, know this. As long as you live, I will watch over the three of you. Just care for them as much as you can for as long as you have." She looked one last time at the two men who were so important to her, before handing Hermione a sealed envelope. "I must go now, but here is a letter for Scorpius to read when he comes of age. I hope that he has not been scarred by this evilness that I brought upon him."

Hermione nodded, daring to place her hand on the woman's arm. "Astoria, if I don't do anything else, I will tell him how much his mother loved him and sacrificed for him."

"Thank you," she said as she faded away.

Hermione turned back to find Draco looking at her, his brows furrowed. She walked over to him and shook her head when he opened his mouth. "Why don't you introduce us?" she said instead. "It is time we move forward."

Draco just nodded as he looked between the boy and the woman, knowing his life was complete.

~H~P~

9 November 2004

Astoria, now know best as Persephone, smiled at her husband of six months. Hades was still handsome, being immortal as he was, but he was nothing like what she thought the ruler of the underworld would be like. He was loving, sweet and had a scathing sense of humour. As the pair walked up towards Hogwarts, cloaked in invisibility, he grasped her hand lightly. "Thank you," she murmured.

"For what, my love?" he asked.

"For coming to the surface to see this."

He laughed. "This is an occasion for the millennium. How often do the three most powerful couples in the Wizarding world get married in the same ceremony?"

Astoria smiled, thankful that Hades was indulging and had allowed her to following Draco and his new friends throughout the last year. She had watched whilst Scorpius had fallen in love with Hermione, already calling her Mum. She could tell the woman had nothing but the best intentions for both Draco and her son, so she felt peace at not being able to see him. Through her watchfulness of Scorpius, she had gotten a glimpse of the friendship of the Golden Trio and their partners and knew that they counted him as part of their family.

"My love, it is starting," Hades said softly as he gestured towards raised podium where three men with blonde, red and black hair stood patiently.

The sound of a harp began to waft through the air. Hermione, Ginny and Luna began the short walk from the forest.

Astoria smiled as they reached their partners and the ceremony began. As the promises were made, she turned back to her own husband. "Let's go home."

He nodded as he opened the doorway to the underworld and they both walked through, neither looking behind, but ahead to their future together, confident that the lives they were leaving behind would be filled with laughter and joy.

~H~P~

AN: So, here it is. The final chapter. I started this story 3 years ago and took almost two of that off from writing. My many thanks go to everyone who read, followed, faved and reviewed. You truly have no idea how big a smile it put on my face to get those alerts. A special thanks goes out to my bff, PrincessG. She was instrumental in helping me work through the writer's block and kicking me when necessary to rewrite (i.e. both this chapter and the last one). Please, if you want me to respond back to your review, login to leave a signed review so I can do that.

In additional news, I did leave this world open for sequels and one shots, so if you want to read something, let me know and I will work on it!

Now for the anonymous review replies!

V – I appreciate your feedback and I promise the word smirk does not appear in this chapter! :p I will watch out for that in the future!

TNgirl – Thanks! I'll admit that it took me 3 tries to get that chapter to meet my bff's approval.