Epilogue

It was October when Draco finally returned to England, joined by Hermione and his new little family. He mostly had to return to make arrangements for his position as Council member of the British Ministry; in addition, they both had to appear in person to make all the legal changes to have Hermione recognised as his new wife, especially Gringotts had been peculiar about it.

After spending an afternoon at the wizarding bank with Hermione, they now enjoyed a dinner at the Black Quill, together with Sofia and Scorpius. They had just finished their main course and Draco was leaning back, all relaxed, as he listened to the young ones telling stories of what they've seen in the afternoon.

Hermione twined her fingers with his, his arm around her shoulders. "Haven't had such a good roast in years. Almost like my mother used to make it. But I haven't missed the English autumn, to be honest."

"Honestly, I'm not going to miss it either." Draco chuckled and placed a kiss on her head. His amusement grew when he heard Scorpius mention how he managed to get on the Quidditch team at Hogwarts.

"Dad bought me the newest broom, but Hooch immediately confiscated it, saying that it would be unfair for other teams who didn't have the same financial support. Didn't you show up at Hogwarts, Dad?"

Draco nodded, smirking. "Hooch was still as intimidating as when I was a student."

"She just didn't like you boys being all cocky on your brooms," Hermione said, nudging him gently in the side.

"You never were victim of her glare, then!" Draco replied, mocking a yelp in pain at her nudge. "Honestly, she made me buy brooms for every team, or Scorpius wouldn't be allowed to use his–"

"Oh, the broom story!" A familiar voice commented from the side, making everyone turn their head.

"Mum!" Scorpius got up to greet Astoria with a brief hug and kiss to her cheek. "François isn't here?"

"No, my dear. He's still at work, buried in his project. I was just craving their Cornish Crab with the Seaweed Salad..."

"Craving?" Draco asked, now getting up as well to greet his ex-wife, but not without kissing Hermione once more on the head before stepping away. "Last time you were craving seafood, you were pregnant with Scorpius."

"I was." Astoria blushed, although she tried to cover it with a smile as she exchanged cheek kisses with him. "And I made you run around to find it..."

Now Hermione joined them with a sheepish smile, and immediately reaching for Draco's hand. "I feel like I totally need to apologise to you. I've called you so many names for catching Draco first..."

Astoria nodded, but then opened her arms for a hug. That is totally understandable. If it is any solace, I did let him beg and grovel quite a bit before I took him back. But all I want to say now is, welcome to the family."

"You should have seen Dad propose at the church, Mum. Cheesy as hell..."

"Oi! Draco nudged his son in the shoulder. "Just wait until you want to marry someone..."

"YOU MARRIED HER?" Astoria let out a squeal before she covered her mouth. "Oh my goodness!"

"Yes," Draco replied with a happy smile and placed one of his arms around Hermione's shoulder and a kiss on her head. His smile widened when he noticed her hand discreetly slip under his jacket to draw patterns in the small of his back. "It was just perfect. And I was so glad that she said yes, despite everything."

"As if I'd let you run away again, to some other girl you're supposed to marry," Hermione replied, nudging him with her shoulder; they all laughed in response to his mocked groan.

"Why don't you join us for a moment?" Hermione then asked, nodding towards the table, where Sofia and the others were still sitting, watching them curiously.

"Oh my goodness, you have to be Sofia," Astoria let out when she saw the young woman. "You look so much like your mother."

Sofia now got up as well, a bit unsure, yet she nodded with a friendly smile and offered her hand. "Yes. Although... Da-Draco said, I have his chin."

"Oh yes, the Malfoy chin."

Meanwhile, Scorpius brought a chair over from an empty table for his mother to sit, right next to him. "Mum, here. Come sit with us."

"But I'm not staying long–"

"Please," Sofia added with a big smile. "I'm sure you have to tell many more stories..."

The waiters were fast to bring out a plate and cutlery for Astoria, as well as the wine card, which she politely declined as she sat down. "Just bring me the crab I ordered earlier."

"Of course."

"Can I ask you something?" Hermione leaned down between Scorpius and Astoria, having noticed her decline of the wine card; she smiled when she saw Astoria's cheeks blush again before she nodded. "You're pregnant, aren't you?"

"MUM?"

The whole table fell silent at Scorpius' shocked gasp and looked at Astoria. Seconds later, she nodded with a happy grin. "It-It was a surprise. I mean, I was shocked when my Midwitch confirmed it. I'm like 12 weeks in and everything loo–"

"Mum!" Scorpius hugged her tightly, joined by Hermione and even Draco who kissed her cheek.

"Oh goodness!" Astoria laughed at the display of affection. "Let me breathe!"

After one last squeeze, Scorpius let go of his mother. "Sorry. It's just that I never thought I'd ever have a sibling, and now I have a big sister and I'll be a big brother soon..."

Hermione returned to her spot, smiling broadly. "We are quite a family, huh?"

"Oh yes," Draco replied, immediately placing his arm on her shoulders once more, pulling her closer. Maybe they weren't a family in the traditional sense, but he was glad that there was an immediate connection between everyone who was important to him, and who he loved.

"But now I want to hear every single detail of your wedding," Astoria said when the plate with her ordered crab arrived. "And don't hold back, I want to know everything."

"Oh, Mum..."

"He's right," Draco said with a laugh, only to reach for his drink as Scorpius' started to tell the story of their island trip that had made him one of the happiest men right now, married to the love of his life, the soulmate he had missed for so long.

..

"Hermione?" Draco was already almost down the hallway at the maternity ward at St. Mungo's when he realised that she wasn't right behind him. After a few seconds he discovered her as she slowly came up to him, seemingly out of breath.

"You don't have to run, seriously." She took a deep breath when she finally reached him. "Gods, I don't remember those hallways being this long..."

"You've been out of breath a lot lately," he said as he offered his hand. "You're sure it's nothing?"

"Yes, my dear." She placed a kiss on his cheek before she nodded towards the door only a few steps away that wore the number Scorpius had told them.

"I wonder whether it has her eyes." Draco opened the door to let Hermione enter first.

"You made it!" Astoria greeted them from her bed, careful not to wake the sleeping baby in the cot next to her.

"I'm sorry that we're late," Draco said as he leaned down to greet his ex, "but the ferry was stuck on Chalki for hours thanks to a storm."

"So cute!" Hermione meanwhile admired the baby with a wide smile. "And the hair... Sofia barely had any when she was born."

Astoria turned around so that she came to sit on the edge of the bed, wincing slightly in pain. "Her name is Amelie..."

"Welcome to the family, Amelie," Hermione whispered, tenderly stroking over the baby's head. "Gods, adorable!"

Draco brought the chair over from under the window so that they could all sit comfortably in one place. "You look good–"

"You mean exhausted? Although, I'm just glad Amelie didn't take as long as Scorpius. François barely made it on time before she came out. You should have seen him when he got to hold her for the first time..."

"Woah, that was a bit too fast..." Hermione shook her head after straightening up, briefly closing her eyes. She didn't protest when Draco made her sit down in the free chair. "I hate it when that happens."

"You should get checked." Draco sighed, taking the other seat. "You're constantly out of breath, and that wasn't your first dizzy spell today."

To both their confusion, Astoria started to laugh at the symptoms he had just mentioned. "I think our family is going to grow even more..."

"What?" Draco shared a look with Hermione, who seemed just as confused as he was. "She's just feeling a bit off, that's all."

"No..." Still giggling, Astoria shook her head. "You're going to be a father, Draco."

Now it was Hermione who gasped, her eyes wide as she looked at him. "But... But we were careful."

Completely shocked, Draco took a deep breath. "You're sure, Astoria? I mean, she didn't feel sick or anything..."

"With Amelie, I was the same. My pressure was all over the place, and I was constantly out of breath from just taking a few steps. And Merlin, the headaches in the morning–"

"Yes, I have them too!"

"Oh fuck..." Draco rubbed his face, just as the realisation hit him like a bludger. For a moment, he was completely overwhelmed, so many thoughts were running through his head while his heart felt as if it was about to explode.

He was going to be a father again.

With Hermione.

After another moment, he finally shook his head and started to laugh because he didn't know how to react otherwise. Yet, now that the initial shock was wearing off, all he could feel was happiness.

And from what he could see, for Hermione it was the same, at least she was grinning and wiping her eyes.

"I love you," he whispered as he leaned closer to kiss her. "And I promise I'll do everything you need me to do."

Astoria sighed happily. "Hermione, believe me, that's true. And I'll be surprised if he even lets you do anything now..."

"Oh, shush!" Draco replied, although he couldn't help but nod when Hermione looked at him with those warm, adoring eyes. "Whatever you need, my love."

"You're all I need." Hermione carefully pushed a strand out of his face, before she pulled him closer for another kiss.

..

'Cause lovers live a little longer, baby

You and me, we got a chance to live twice