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Chapter 22: Happy Endings and Conclusions:

The outside of the cottage looked almost ominous in the purple haze of dawn. The sea below the cliff was loud and deafening in the wake of the morning, with waves crashing vociferously to the shore. There was an uncanny awareness surrounding Draco as he approached the door. Somehow, he knew everything was okay.

He opened the door, without calling her name, he walked right through the foyer, up the stairs, and he found her just where he knew he would. She was sitting at her writing desk, a piece of parchment in her hand. She was reading another letter. She turned when she heard his footsteps on the stairs. When he reached the top landing, she swiveled in the seat and waited for him to rush to her.

She dropped the letter from her hand and bounded to his arms.

"You're safe!" he said at the same time that she said, "You're okay!"

"What happened?" he asked.

"I was in the building one moment, it started to crash around me, when I felt a pull in the middle of my stomach, the same pull you feel when you side-along apparate, or use a portkey, and the next minute I'm landing in the front garden. The strangest thing of all is that I had this letter in my hand when I arrived. I don't even know how it got there." She turned from his grasp, and picked up the letter she had just dropped.

She handed it to him.

It was from Otto to Miriam. It was written the day he was killed.

My Miriam –

If you are reading this letter, then you must know that I have died. I wanted to meet you more than I have ever wanted anything. I wanted to marry you, and give our child my name, (Yes, I know that you're with child, and I have never been happier in my life) but sometimes fate has other plans for us.

If nothing else, let my life go on through our child. I will do my best to protect you both from harm all the days of my life, and on throughout my death. I have put safeguards all throughout the village, to protect you and our child. One of them is this letter. If any harm comes to you while you are in the village, this letter will come to you, and bring you safely back to the cottage.

You see, I'm just as good at magic as you, my dear, sweet, smart, girl. I love you so much.

My life is nothing without you. Life will be hard for us together and even harder now that we're apart. I know there are dangers out there for us, but I'll always try to keep you safe.

My love for you transcends death.

My love for you surpasses time.

Forgive me for not meeting you. It was never my intention to hurt you, but to protect you. Morrison Cranston threatened my life when I went to the church tonight to speak with the parish elder about marrying us in the morning. I am afraid he will try to stop the marriage at all cost, and if he does, he will pay for his sins someday.

If I meet you on the bluff overlooking the sea, and we are able to marry, then you will never see this letter, which makes this sentence a moot point. If I do not meet you, then I know that I met with a terrible ending, but know this, my life was better just having loved you.

I knew the moment I saw you walking down the street, with your hair blowing all around, and that twinkle in your eye, that I would make you mine, and I did, so I can die a happy man.

I love you forever, Your Otto

Draco read the letter aloud. He reached out for Hermione's hand and said, "Miriam and Otto never got their second chance."

"I know, I feel so sad about that," she said. She put her arms around his waist.

"Candace is dead," Draco said plainly.

Hermione lifted her head from his shoulder and said, "How?"

"Claire. She was her sister, and she killed her. She killed her own sister," Draco said.

"I know. She was Albert's illegitimate daughter, did you know? She was Phillip's half-sister, making her Otto and Miriam's granddaughter," Hermione explained.

"Yes, Phillip told us."

"What will happen to Claire?" Hermione asked.

"Hopefully she will rot in hell next to Morrison Cranston. When my father hears that old man Cranston killed his Uncle, I'm afraid his vengeance will be quick and just. Hermione, I hate to ask this of you, but can I go check on my son, and explain everything to my mother and father?"

"I would expect nothing else. Don't worry; I'll be here when you come back. I will never leave you," she said. She placed her cheek next to his, and then turned her head and kissed him.

"I'll never leave you either," he said. "Can we have our date tomorrow? The date we missed. The date I never showed up for, three summers ago, because I married Claire? It's important to me. I feel somehow it will make up for things, since Otto wasn't able to meet Miriam, as stupid as that may sound."

"I don't think it sounds stupid," she answered. "I feel profound sadness that Miriam had to spend her whole life without her son, and not ever knowing what happened to her love. I wish I could tell her somehow."

He smiled, but it felt false. At least he wouldn't have to spend his life without his son and his love, as if that was justice somehow. He pulled her to him so suddenly that she almost faltered. He placed his arms around her tightly, and he kissed her hard on the mouth. "Don't ever leave me." He ran his fingertips gently down her face and said, "If you do, I'll be seriously put out."

She laughed and said, "We don't want you to be put out."

He smiled once more and ran down the stairs, so he could apparate back to Carrington House to check on his son.

She read the letter once more, and then feeling overwhelmed, but inspired, she sat down to write. She had the perfect ending for her story.

(Hermione's Story)

Chapter 34: The End

Waring saw her standing alone on the beach. She must have thought he had left her. She must have thought he would never show. He was supposed to meet her last night, on the bluff, but instead, his cousin Parrish tried to have him killed. He narrowly escaped with his life.

He felt turmoil, just watching her. Perhaps it would be better to let her believe that he had abandoned her. No, that might be easier on him, but not on her. He owed her so much…his life, his love, his happiness.

He took several more steps toward her and said, "You look so beautiful, Miranda."

She turned; hand on chest, breath caught in her throat. "Where have you been? I thought you had left me. You didn't meet me."

"I know. I was busy warding off an early death. My cousin was intent on killing me, it seems," he said, somewhat unaffected.

She ran to him, but stopped short. "Why did he try to kill you?"

"It seems that the church records proved that I am really Lord of the Manor, Lord Westlake. He's not. He thought it would be easier if I were gone. I also think he was misguided, and he wanted you for himself, but little did he know that my darling Miranda would never have gone for someone like him."

She smiled and said, "Whom shall I go for, if not someone handsome like Parrish?"

"Why, me, my dear. After all, we love each other, and I am now Lord of the Manor, and I need you by my side, because I don't know how to do that alone." He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. He continued to profess his love to her, and apologized for not showing up, and she was soon intoxicated by the smooth timbre of his voice, that she could no longer disconcert the words he spoke. She only knew one thing and that was that he was there. He hadn't abandoned her.

She surrendered to his mouth, which was now on hers. Their combined passion consumed them both, and too soon, they were entwined together, and lying on his coat on the sand, the waves breaking closely around them, the pink light of the dawn breaking through what remained of the night sky.

"I love you, Waring," she said.

"Good thing, Miranda, since I intend to make you my wife."

"Yes, good thing," she agreed.

The End

Draco tucked the last page of her manuscript behind all the others, and inserted it back into the large envelope in which he had removed it two hours before. She had finished her story just last night, and had sent it to him this morning. She told him to finish it before they had their date, and he did. He felt such conflicting emotions regarding the story, his love for her, and for Miriam and Otto.

He arrived at Theo's back garden hours before he was to meet Hermione. They had planned their date here, and it was perfect. First, this was the place where they fell in love, at that fateful picnic, three years prior, before he married Claire, and before the events of this summer. Second, Theo was out of the country, so they wouldn't be disturbed. Draco had everything planned, down to the fireworks that would end their evening. He sat back on the blanket and he turned his head slightly as he heard her approach. He smiled, an almost wicked smile, when he saw that she had on the white sundress with the little cherries.

"That's a pretty frock," he said.

"Do you like it?" She twirled once.

"Almost as much as I like you," he said, patting the space beside him. She sat down and saw the envelope with her story.

"You finished reading it?"

"Yes."

"What did you think?" She was anxious to hear what he thought.

"I think that I'm almost as happy that Miranda Gray, with an 'A' and Waring Glynn, with the 'Y' before the 'N', got their second chance at happiness, just like we did," he answered truthful. "I mean, I don't usually go for these period romances…"

She interrupted and said, "No, you're more into the classics, right? See Spot Run, and Peter Rabbit."

"I shall ignore your obvious defamation of my character and continue with my wave of thought," he stated. "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I don't usually go for flowery romances, but I think this is my new favourite, all-time story. Right up there with 'Pat the Bunny'."

She laughed and said, "Thomas loves that story, doesn't he?"

"So does his old man," Draco responded.

Hermione looked at the other side of Draco, where his son slept in a bassinet, which was on the ground, placed on the other side of the blanket. She leaned over Draco's lap and stroked the little boy's hair. "He's so sweet."

"Takes after me," Draco said, rubbing his hand on her back.

She sat back down beside him and asked, "Do you think I'll make him a good mother?"

"If I decide to marry you, probably," he said, "but Granger dear, this is our first date, so it's a bit early to be talking marriage."

"Right, too early," she said with a grin. "Just answer me this, do you love me?"

Instead of answering, he pulled her to him, and with his hands on her cheeks, he pushed her hair away from her face, and kissed her forehead. He kissed her right cheek, then her left, and then her earlobe. He kissed down her jaw to her neck, and then back up the other side of her face. His hands moved from her hair down to her shoulders. He rubbed his hands up and down her shoulders several times, before moving one to her back, and one back to her face. The hand on her back pressed her to him, and the one on her face stroked her cheek, before he leaned forward to kiss her again.

He kissed her for what felt like infinity, and then he licked her bottom lip, and kissed her again. His tongue licked her top lip, and then he kissed her some more.

He parted from her and asked suddenly, "Do you love me?"

Taking his cue, she decided to 'show' him her answer, the way he showed her. She kissed his forehead, the way he had kissed her, and then his mouth, as her answer. Hermione sank her tongue deeply in his mouth, to show him exactly how much she loved him.

Right there in Theo's back garden, with the baby asleep beside them, Draco set up an illusion charm, and then he removed his clothing. He leaned over her, and placed his hand on her chest between her breasts. He moved one strap of her sundress down her arm and kissed the swell of breasts that peeked above the neckline of the dress. He pulled her to him, so she was over him, and he was back on his back. She bent over him and kissed his chest, as his hand went to the zipper on the back of her dress. He unzipped it slowly, his fingers moving down her spine as the zipper glided down the dress.

Before they knew it, they were in the act of making love, under a tree, with the sun streaking through the branches. They both tried to remain as quiet as they could, so not to wake baby Thomas.

After they showed their love for each other, and they dressed once more, Draco opened a picnic basket and removed wine, wine glasses, cheese and crackers.

He opened the wine, poured some into two glasses, and handed one to her. He took a drink from his glass, and as she started to drink from hers, he said, "Granger, what's in the bottom of your glass?"

She held it up to the light and said, "It appears to be a diamond ring, imagine that." Playing along, she took a big swig of the white wine.

"I wonder how that got in there," he asked.

"Heaven only knows, Malfoy," she answered in fake disdain. She reached inside with her index finger and held it up toward the sun again. "It's sort of pretty."

"It looks old. I hear it's an heirloom," he said.

"How did you hear that? From the ring fairy?" she asked. She dried the ring on the end of her dress.

"No, I heard it from my father, who said that he found it in the attic many years ago, and apparently it was the ring that Otto had intended to give to Miriam."

She looked at him, astounded. "You're lying."

"Usually I would feel that you were justified if you said that, but this time it's unwarranted." He picked up his sleeping son and said, "Don't let our son hear his mother say such unflattering things about his dear old dad." Draco smiled and reached over with one hand, touched her cheek, and asked, "Shall I put it on you?"

"If you intend to ask me to marry you, then it would be best." She held out her hand.

He placed the ring on her finger and looked down at his son. He kissed the baby's head and then placed him back in the bassinet beside them. He reached for Hermione's hand and pulled her over to him. He lay down on his back, with her leaning on his chest. "It fits."

"So do we." She looked at her ring.

"Then shall we?" he asked.

"Get married, you mean?"

"You're so smart, aren't you? Yes, get married. My son's father needs a wife."

She smiled, kissed his lips languidly, and then she placed her head back on his chest. She looked at her hand once more and said, "I can't believe this is Miriam and Otto's ring. I feel like this is their second chance at love too, through us."

He smiled. He felt happier than he had ever felt in his whole life. She propped herself up on her elbows and said, "Malfoy, I've never known you to be this quiet. What do you think?"

"I just think that this is such a happy ending, that it almost makes me sick." She hit his chest, as hard as she could, and sat back up. He sat beside her and said, "Oh well, all of those romantic suckers out there, in which apparently I am one, demands that stories end happily, and who are we to disagree? At least two of the three stories got to have a happy ending."

"Two?" she asked.

"The story of Miranda Gray, with the A, and Waring Glynn, Y before N, and the story of Draco and Hermione," he explained. He lay back down, pulling her down with him.

"Oh, I don't know," she said, drawing small circles on his chest, her face leaning up to look into his eyes. "I rather think Miriam and Otto are finally getting their happy ending, too, because it's through them that we obtained our happy ending."

"Well, when put like that, who am I to argue?" he asked with a smile.

"Quite right, Malfoy," she agreed. "Quite right."

The Happy Ending, really