Chapter 24

Of course Draco lied about not having a way off the island. He had a portkey that activated once a month. It still took them three months to decide to go home.

Hermione was very nervous about heading back home. Their relationship worked perfectly when they were away from everyone and everything. In fact, it was perfect. But last time they went back, it fell apart when they were faced with the real world. Hermione feared everything. Most of all, she feared that Draco would resent her for losing his family and his fortune. She would go through period when she knew in her bones that this would not last. It had too much against it.

But Draco would always talk her out of her fears. And if talking didn't do it, he would use other means to refocus her on what was important.

Draco had some money put aside, which would keep them going for a little while. Then they had to live on their own means. This scared Hermione the most. It wasn't a problem for her, she could live on a shoe string, but Draco was used to the best of everything and she wasn't sure he could compromise.

Her parents were pretty accepting of the relationship, as was Harry and Ginny to Hermione's infinite surprise. Ron was not so accepting. Neither were Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Draco was disowned as soon as they moved in together in a small flat near Diagon Alley. Many of Draco's friends were less than accepting as well.

The flat was tiny, but Draco didn't complain. Hermione was waiting for it, but he never mentioned anything.

He got a job at Gringotts pretty promptly, which secured an income. Hermione went back to working in Fred's joke shop until she could sit her NEWTS. Once that was done, she got a good entry level position in the Department of Magical Enforcement doing administration. Harry helped her secure the position and she was grateful even though she disapproved of him using his powers of persuasion as he called it.

With both of them working, their income was soon sufficient to afford a nice little cottage in Godric's Hollow. They had a core group of friends which included Harry, Ginny, Neville, Fred, Luna, Blaise Zabini, Theo Nott, and Pansy Parkinson. They were a bit uneasy around each other at first, but old school lines gave way to merciless teasing, to finally acceptance of each other's unique characters and life view points. Ron and Lavender immersed themselves in the group over time. Lavender was there through her relationship with Ron, because she did a fantastic job annoying everyone.

Hermione's fears started to settle a bit as time went on. She was sure that Draco missed his family, but he didn't seem to stress about it too much. In fact, he seemed very laid back about it.

Neither was he surprised when Narcissa's conviction to his disownment lasted to around five seconds after the first grandchild was born. Lucius stood by his convictions longer. He suffered through a few lonely Christmases before his resolve seemed to weaver some. The second child, a son, was his ultimate undoing.

Draco was never un-disowned, but innocent children deserved to be regarded without the sins of their father, or something along those lines.

Lucius' disownment of his son ended up killing his ambitions for becoming Minister, which Hermione thought of as a small mercy they had bestowed on the world.

Ultimately, Draco did well in his reduced circumstances. Hermione guessed there was a certain kind of pride in being able to provide for your own family by your own means.

They kept the little apartment in Cuba and retreated there whenever they wanted to get away from it all. They got the chance fairly often and Lucius and Narcissa dragged the children all over Europe to ensure that their education in appropriate wizard ways was not neglected. Over the years the Cuban apartment became a little larger and a little more renovated. Hermione wouldn't go as far as to install marble in the bathroom as Draco had planned, but she would agree to a nice slate.

The End