Author's Note: Reading this story back is actually giving me anxiety, it's sooo awful! So to everyone who has criticised me on plot flaws, writing flaws etc. etc. just please know that I started writing this fic when I was fourteen and good God can you tell! At some point I may go back and rewrite it but who knows, only time will tell!
EPILOGUE
11th JULY 2018
"Shit!"
Ginny startled from where she was sat behind her office, back at Malfoy Industries as Draco's assistant. The business man had clearly been lectured greatly by his wife, turning up on Ginny's doorstep and bumbling into a long apology just the day after Ginny had visited Hermione, begging her to come back and complaining about his current assistant - who apparently still had no idea what his coffee order was. Ginny had rolled her eyes at that before graciously accepting Draco's apology.
"Mr Malfoy?" she questioned professionally as her boss and friend barrelled out of his office, rushing down the corridor towards the elevator.
"Hermione's in labour!" He yelled behind him as the elevator door opened and he jumped in, finger punching at the lobby button frantically. Ginny could only watch in shock as the door closed on him, before jumping up as well and grabbing her phone to call Harry.
"Tell Victoire she's in charge," she said to one of her colleagues and she bolted in the elevator which had only just returned from dropping Draco off.
…
"I hate you right now Draco," Hermione shrieked at her husband. Her just nodded, used to her attitude during childbirth now.
"Yes honey, of course honey."
"Are you being sarcastic now!? Seriously!?"
"No," Draco responded automatically. "Just push Hermione, just one more push."
She glared at him but did as she was told as the midwife repeated Draco's words.
…
Ginny smiled as she walked back over to her husband and the Malfoy children. Ginny and Harry had hurried them to the hospital after Draco's announcement and they were now all waiting for news.
"Congratulations," she cried. "You all have a new baby sister."
Eva was the first to react, squealing as she jumped up from her seat and running over to hug Ginny. The redhead chuckled at the girl's actions.
"I don't know why you're hugging me, I didn't do anything."
"Just happy!"
Harry shook his head. "I'm sure you're allowed in, why don't you go and meet her?"
Eva practically ran into the hospital room, Quinton and Astrum skipping along behind her and they tried to keep up with their sister's strides. Hyperion hung back with a pout, grumbling about the number of girls in the family.
Harry and Ginny shared a snicker as he huffed off after his sisters.
"They picked a name?" Harry asked as he wrapped an arm around his wife, starting to walk towards the Malfoys' hospital room.
"They were bickering about it when I left," Ginny smirked. Harry let out a laugh.
"Poor child, just entered the world and her parents are already arguing."
"Well they are Malfoys."
Harry nodded, he couldn't deny that. "So, why were they bickering? I thought they had already thought of names?"
Ginny chuckled. "You won't believe it. But Hermione turned to Draco straight after the nurse revealed she was a girl and said 'little Artemis Lucile'. Apparently Draco had thought up the name, however he then argued that it was too weird and was trying to think of another one."
Harry frowned. "So is she called Artemis, or not?"
"No idea," she replied as they reached the room and entered, sniggering to themselves when they heard Eva telling her parents to 'just give the baby a name and get over it'.
And so Artemis Lucile Malfoy was introduced to the world. Grey eyes sparkling up at her parents as the smiled down at her contently.
Ginny grinned as she watched the Malfoy family crowd around their latest edition.
"You know, sometimes I wonder what our life would be like if I hadn't applied for that job," she whispered to her husband.
Harry looked at her with raised brows. "Well, thank god we don't have to think about that."
"Very true," Ginny said, interrupted by Hermione calling the couple over to come and meet Artemis.
"I'm still not sure about the name."
"You came up with it!"
"Yes, and although I am usually right, I just feel…"
"Draco."
"Yes dear?"
"Shut up and look at our daughter."
—
1st SEPTEMBER 2021
"There they are!" Quinton squealed, rushing ahead of her parents once they had made it through the barrier that led to platform 9 3/4.
"Don't run off too far Quinn," Draco barked from where he was holding Artemis in his arms. "It's getting busy."
"It wouldn't be so busy if we'd gotten here earlier," Eva rolled her eyes, she was looking around the platform, most likely to try and find her friends. "But somebody insisted we stay and take loads of photos for 'memories'."
"It's your last first day of Hogwarts, Eva," Hermione tutted at her eldest daughter, making sure Astrum was keeping up with her as she directed her family through the traffic that was platform nine and three quarters at the start of a new school year. "And Quinton's first day. It's important to your father."
"Hey, it was your idea too!" Draco shot back. "Don't put this all on me."
"Don't lie dad," Hyperion snorted. "Mum had nothing to do with this."
"Yeah, you just got all excited about using the new camera you got for your birthday," Eva snickered.
Draco frowned. "It's a good camera, I haven't had a proper occasion to use it for until today."
"I hope I'm in Gryffindor," Quinton babbled to herself excitedly. "Like mum and Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry."
Hermione watched her daughter with fond pride. Draco scowled at her.
"Gryffindors are stupid," he grumbled as they reached the Potter family. Ginny turned around to face her boss with a raised eyebrow.
"What was that?"
"Quinton wants to be in Gryffindor," Hermione answered with a teasing smile in her husband's direction. "Draco's just still getting over Hyperion's sorting."
"I already lost one child to you lot. I'm not losing another."
"Merlin, we're not a cult," Ginny snorted, leaning down to fix wipe a smudge of dirt off Dora's cheek. "Goodness Dora, what have you been doing?"
Her youngest pushed her away, shrugging. "Nothing! Dad took me to look at the front of the train."
Ginny gave Harry a disapproving look. "Of course he did."
Dora was quickly distracted by the arrival of Quinton and the pair started squealing together, talking about Quinn starting Hogwarts and hoping Quinn would end up in Gryffindor.
"If you ask me," Hermione leant over to whisper in Ginny's ear. "She'll be a Ravenclaw."
Ginny agreed with a nod. "Definitely. But I feel like you can keep this Gryffindor act up with Draco for a little longer," she replied with a cunning glint in her eye. Hermione chuckled. The redhead should've been a Slytherin herself.
"Verity and Ed are over there, I'm gonna head off," Eva said to her parents, giving them swift hugs; Hermione's a little bit longer as she felt tears prick in her eyes.
"Okay," she sniffled, clutching at her daughter. "Remember to write as soon as you arrive!"
"Yes mum," Eva rolled her eyes, but there was a fond smile on her face. "Love you."
"Love you too," Hermione and Draco responded together as Eva rushed off to meet her friends.
Ginny sighed at the forlorn look on her oldest son's face.
"Poor boy's got it bad," Harry muttered to her as he too caught the look.
"It's a shame they don't talk anymore. They were a cute couple."
"They'll be fine," Hermione reassured. "I know Eva, she'll be all over James sooner than later," she said with a wink. Draco glowered over at the eldest Potter child.
"I hope not. Eva's too young for a boyfriend."
"You say that every year, Draco," Hermione said with an exasperated expression. "She's seventeen now."
"Still too young," he grumbled to himself whilst the others laughed.
A train whistle pulled them all away from their conversation and Quinton started shrieking again.
"I can't believe it, I'm finally going to Hogwarts!"
"You're going to love it Quinn," Harry said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder and giving it a squeeze. She beamed at him, followed by a hug. She then hugged Ginny, and her parents (Draco and Hermione were now both sobbing a little) before running off with Dora to find a compartment.
Both families watched as their children said goodbye, disappearing off to find friends and head off to school.
"Remember when that was us," Hermione said to Harry, nudging his arm with a smile.
"Yeah, feels like yesterday."
"Lots has happened since then," she deducted, eyes flitting over to her husband who was still holding Artemis, taking her tiny hand and waving it in the direction of the train.
"Yes it has," Ginny answered with a grin as looked at the people she now classed as her family.
In the background, a whistle sounded again as the Hogwarts Express chugged out of the station, disappearing into the distance.
Author's Note:
HOLY SHIT IT'S FINISHED!
This fic has taken me a good solid 6 years to write and finish and goodness has it been a long six years!
Thank you everyone for reading!
Hope you enjoyed the epilogue, it was just a little summin' summin' to wrap up the story
There may be a sequel... I don't know yet... maybe a prequel? Let me know what you'd prefer although I cannot promise I will actually get around to writing it! A university degree is hard work!
Anyway, thank you again so so so much and I hope you all enjoyed this story!
Emmaaalg x