Three years later

Hermione looked at her emerald ring as she sat in front of the mirror, in the bedroom she had once occupied in Grimmauld Place.

It was cold, draining her of all her warmth. It made her think of the last time it had gone cold.

When Draco had taken her to meet his mother.

When she had learnt that Narcissa Malfoy had a permanent ward in St Mungo's.

Two years ago

Draco and Hermione were sitting in a Muggle cafe. It was the best they could do to get away from the press and have a moment of peace.

What the Daily Prophet wouldn't do to catch a glimpse of the Power Couple. The Head of the Dark Artefacts Response team dating the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, was a feast for any Wizarding tabloid.

Draco had acquired a taste for Muggle cafes once he'd realized the level of privacy they offered. Away from the Wizarding world, it was like another universe detached from his own. A universe of peace.

They sipped their coffee silently, as both noticed their respective rings had gone cold. Though only one of them knew what it meant.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Hermione finally broke the silence.

"You know we've been dating for a year." Draco started cautiously.

"Yes."

"And I've always been closed up about my occasional disappearances."

"Yes, you never quite came clean about turning up late on our first date either", she laid on the sarcasm thick with her remark, "I mean sure it was only for a bet, but.. Wait. Is this the part where you tell me you're in love with someone else?", she stiffened as it dawned on her that this could be the reason her ring had turned cold.

"No. It's something I cannot just speak about, though. I'd rather you see for yourself."

They Apparated to the nearest Apparition point to St Mungo's and stepped through the window of the familiar red-bricked, department store called Purge and Dowse, Ltd.

Hermione noticed her ring grow colder by the minute, as Draco spoke to the inanimate dummy, granting them access.

They went up to the Fourth floor to the Spell Damage Ward.

And then Hermione saw her. Narcissa Malfoy neé Black staring ahead into space.

She recoiled at the memories that washed over her, at the sight of the seemingly lifeless woman, sitting right in front.

"I-, Wh-, Draco- What happened to her?!"

"Father. Father happened."

He approached his mother and took her hand in his. She noticed Narcissa was wearing a ring similar to hers, but with the head of a wolf, with tiny black diamonds as eyes.

"After the Battle, father ran away to protect us from his fate", Draco spoke as he looked into Hermione's eyes. "He knew that as long as he had the mark, he was traceable by the remaining Death Eaters.

I was prepared to go as well, and spare my mother from our imminent fate.

She didn't have the Dark Mark. She could have escaped, but she wouldn't let me go. And I loved her too much to leave.

We had taken refuge in our Epsom Manor as the one in Wiltshire was known to all Death Eaters.

And then one day they came for us, asking for father's whereabouts.

Both of us knew by that time that father was already dead - Mother's ring had gone dark. Someone else must have gotten to him.

I guess the Death Eaters didn't know that. They had scattered at that time, with no proper leadership, since both the Dark Lord and Aunt Bella were dead. And the Ministry was still sending search squads of Aurors to round them up.

That was when they came. We were outnumbered five to one. She told them he was dead but they didn't believe her.

They Cruciated her. And when finally they realized she was telling the truth, they didn't stop. They continued to torture her until her screams stopped, and then they came for me."

He stopped for a moment and hung his head. Then took his mother's hand to his lips, kissed it. He then shook his head and kept it down as he continued.

"It wasn't my first kill. I had been forced to torture and kill many under threat. But it was the first I did willingly. I did it because if I wouldn't, I knew they would kill both mother and me.

I Stunned the ones who were after me and went for the ones who were torturing my mother first. I don't know how or why I did it. All I remember is rage.

No one believed I took down all ten of them under duress or self defence. I had used Dark Spells, after all.

It earned me a week in Azkaban before they were kind enough to hold a trial and decide that it was in self defence, and let me out.

And I would do it again. For the people I love. For my mother."

Hermione's blood had run cold as she imagined the scene play out. Draco stealthily advancing on five crazed Death Eaters too busy torturing a woman to notice their own imminent death.

And then he paused again for a moment before he spoke,

"For you."

"Does that make you hate me?" He added.

"Draco, I-"

"Does it make you want to leave me?"

"No, Draco I would never", she almost screamed and hurried to his side taking his head into her embrace as soon as she realised his voice was cracking.

She bent down to kiss the back of his head, running her fingers through his soft blonde hair.

They held each other for what seemed like an eternity, while their breathing synced together like the moon and the tide, until finally Draco spoke, "Hermione, I'm sorry. I brought you here for something else completely. And look at me, turning everyone's mood dark."

He took her hand in his and Hermione could feel the ring glow warm.

He turned towards the seemingly lifeless woman and spoke, "Mother, this is the love of my life. I brought her here so you could get to know her.

I'm sorry for not telling either of you earlier. I've been a coward. But I promise to change that. I promise to become the man both of you deserve."

Present Day - Grimmauld Place

Hermione's daydream was cut short as Mrs Weasley called out to her.

"Oh, you must hurry my dear! Your poor groom looks so nervous, he could run away! Better grab him for good before he does", she chortled winking at her.

And then she continued in a more serious tone, "Hermione. That boy has always been so weak willed. Are you quite sure about this my dear?"

Hermione smiled at her concern.
Mrs Weasley had always been so kind. Even after everything Ron had done. She'd accepted Hermione as a daughter.

Ron would be here with his fiancee, Hannah Abott. How he managed to convince Hannah to date him was a mystery to her. But she was not surprised that he fell for the landlady of the Leaky Cauldron, seeing his previous crush on Madame Rosmerta. She had guessed he had always had a thing for landladies.

She let out a long sigh.

"Don't worry, Mrs Weasley. He'll stick around", she winked back.

"Of course, my dear. I trust you'll make an honest man out of him", Mrs Weasley replied knowingly, as she patted her head.

Hermione walked the aisle with Victoire as her flower girl and Teddy as the ring bearer.

Teddy had turned his hair a lustrous gold to match Victoire's. She smiled at them since they looked so cute together that way.

She could see the line up of her bridesmaids and it only made her more nervous. There was Ginny, standing with Luna and Astoria, and Blaise, Draco's best man.

There was Harry, in the front row, beside Neville. They both looked so sure of themselves in their relationships. She felt happy knowing she wasn't alone to feel that way.

Harry and Ginny had married right out of their 8th year and so had Blaise and Luna. She wondered if they'd been a bag of nerves just like her. She'd forgotten to ask Ginny in all the chaos that was her wedding. The past few days had been a blur.

Neville was proposing to Astoria today. She had wondered how that had happened. But then, Draco had told her - "Tory has always been a sucker for lost causes".

She had never understood what that meant, given that Astoria was such a high achiever for her year. She'd even been a Prefect.

That was until one day, Neville had nervously asked her relationship advice on dating a Slytherin. Once Hermione had recovered from the initial shock, she had advised him to just be himself.

Apparently, it had worked.

Hogwarts 8th year - Eve of Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin Quidditch Match

Astoria saw Pansy and Nott making out on the couch. It made her wish she had someone to love as well.

She sighed. A girl can dream.

She closed her eyes and was shocked to see the face that popped up.

She closed her eyes again hoping to see someone else, but it was the same face again!

Neville Longbottom!

She was imagining herself leaning in for a kiss.

Oh no! She thought shocked as she opened her eyes wide, her mind racing. The Love Pill had send her brain and body chemistry into overdrive.

Do I fancy him? I need to find out. Maybe talking to him will help.

"Daphne I'm going out for some air. I'll be back", she called out to her elder sister.

"Wait, Tory! We have a game tomorrow! What's wrong with you, sister? You worry me."

"I have to go. Figure some things out."

"Wait up! I'm coming with!"

"No Daphne. I need to do this alone."

"Tory. You're scaring me. Has someone been threatening you? Tell me the truth."

"No Daph. Morgana's mercy! You're paranoid. It's just that... I think I like someone."

"What? Who?"

"I'm not sure, though. See that's the thing. I'm sure I'll know if I talk to him. I can feel it."

"Are you sure you're not drunk Tory? Everyone is acting weird today.

Millie has been crying over Goyle not being around.

Pansy's baring it all with Nott! Of all the people, Nott! Can you believe that?

And now you're acting up? I'm beginning to suspect-"

"Oh come off it, Daph. Do I look like some lovelost fool to you? I just told you I want to make sure, that is all. Are you with me or not?"

Daphne let out a sigh. Astoria had always been the more strong willed one. She knew she would go ahead anyway. She decided it would be better to stick around than let her sister wander out alone after curfew.

"Well. Okay then. I guess I'm in. Let's go."

Gryffindor common room

Astoria and Daphne found Neville reading "Magical Plants and Their Uses" on the couch.

"Er.. Longbottom?", Astoria began, causing Neville to jump, and both the girls to chortle at his reaction.

"What? Hey! Aren't you on the Slytherin team? What in the world are you doing here? And who gave you the password?" He eyed them suspiciously.

"Draco did", the elder sister confessed, "He always knows the Gryffindor password."

"Yes, it's like his new religion or something. Gryffindor password, Quidditch practice, student timetables, you know.." Astoria remarked rolling her eyes.

"Umm. Okay. I'll let that sink in for a moment", Neville replied cautiously.

"We don't have a moment Longbottom! We are here to know something and you better tell us the truth, fast", Daphne interrupted, in a threatening tone.

"What the- you think you can intimidate me?" He challenged them, smiling confidently, waving his wand casually.

Astoria glared at her sister's lack of tact.

"Umm, please?" She added sweetly.

Neville looked into her eyes and saw that she was earnest.

"Alright. What do you want to know? Please make it quick though. I have an essay to finish."

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Er- What? Is that what you want to know? Well. Umm, no. I don't", he replied sheepishly, then gathering back his self esteem and adding, "How does it matter?"

"It does actually. Will you go out with me?" Astoria abruptly interjected.

"What? I hardly know you. Is this a joke? The Slytherins' idea of a prank? Because it's NOT funny."

"Do you think I'm an easy woman, Longbottom? To offer myself to everyone that comes my way for a laugh?
We may not flaunt it, but were still purebloods. We've been given good enough upbringing not to do that!"

"Umm. I'm sorry. I wouldn't know. I was brought up by my Granny. She doesn't share your views", he shrugged.

"So?" Astoria asked

"So what?" He wanted to clarify.

"So will you go out with me?" Astoria was now impatient.

"Umm. Look er-?"

"Astoria."

"Yes, ok, Astoria. Look, Astoria. My Granny taught me never to break a lady's heart. So I'll be straight up about this one and save you the trouble. I hardly know you, so I don't know if I would want to go out with you. But maybe we can be friends? And then take it from there?"

"I can live with that."

"Alright. Good night to both you ladies. I have an essay to write. "

"I'll see you soon, Astoria?' He said smiling kindly and confidently to her.

"Good night Neville", she smiled at him. She felt as if he was her sun and her whole life revolved around him.

Wait! She thought. When did that happen?

True, she'd admired him during the battle of Hogwarts when he'd stood up to the Dark Lord, when most pure-blood families just cowered in fear of being exterminated.

She may have had a crush.

Respect? MAYBE.

But love? She'd never thought of that before.

Is this what Love feels like? She wondered.

"Oh well. At least he's pureblood. So it shouldn't be a problem convincing father if you get seriously involved", Daphne smirked.

The sisters smiled at each other fondly as they exited the Gryffindor common room.

Grimmauld Place, Main Hall, Present Day

Kingley Shaklebolt was called in to perform the wedding ceremony. The Weasleys and Potters had decided that the war heroine deserved nothing less than the Minister of Magic himself.

It only made Hermione more overwhelmed than anything, standing at the altar with Draco, with the minister bonding them together for life.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls..." He began.

'How are you holding up?' Hermione whispered as the minister droned on and on, even after they had exchanged their vows.

"A bit nervous", Draco confessed.

"Oh! So that's what it was!" She whispered excitedly.

"What was?" Draco sounded confused.

"The ring. It went cold", she spoke under her breath.

" 'Mione, you could have just asked me?" Draco rolled his eyes at her excessive self reliance.

"What? And give you another chance to show off that you know something I don't? No, thank you", she quipped.

Draco couldn't stop himself from laughing and earned a throat clearing from Shaklebolt, obviously irritated that the bride and groom were too busy bantering to pay attention to rituals.

Too bad for him, Draco and Hermione had never been one for tradition.

"Hermione Jean Granger, you never fail to impress", Draco spoke into her ear pulling her close.

"You may now kiss the bride..." The words seemed distant. Thankfully they came at the right time, as Draco pulled her into a kiss.

Author's Note:

Okay so this is the end ( in case you hadn't noticed). *Long sigh*

Let me know what you think - What you LOVE, What you hate? The ships ( I hope they sail ), if you have any questions regarding the plot, ANYTHING. Leave your reviews and questions and I WILL try and answer them.

PS: About the marriage scene, I hate those long boring rituals, and I absolutely never pay attention (even the shortest ones with one liner vows last for ages. At least that's how I perceive them)

So yeah. I put it in the background. If you want cliché tear-jerking marriage scenes, you know where to look (definitely not here).

PPS: I will be back with more Fanficiton. So stay tuned!