Epilogue

After having tried her potion a third time, Hermione was finally able to test her Cruciatus cure on people. It worked. She was now being recognized for it a few months later. It was a huge accomplishment in the wizarding world and for how many years wizards had existed no one had been able to accomplish it before her.

Hermione had just stepped up to the podium after being introduced to make her speech.

"I would just first like to thank my husband, Draco who went through so much with me. And then of course my lab for putting up with me and my crazy moods during the research process. I know how I can be sometimes…" she said smiling guiltily, "This was the reason that I became involved in research in the first place. My good friend, Neville Longbottom's parents were severely damaged by the curse and he has never really known them. Because of this he has been able to have a relationship with them with no lasting effects. I hope … "

Hermione groaned and immediately doubled over in a tremendous amount of pain. Then she felt it as her water broke. She was almost 9 months pregnant and the baby picked now to come? She looked up with a panicked look on her face. She can invent a serious life changing potion but the thought of having her baby now scared her to death.

"Umm… I apologize for the interruption. I think I'm going to have to go as my baby has chosen…" and she doubled over in pain again, "Oww… chosen now to come!"

Draco rushed up to her.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

"Yeah. Sure. If I can handle a dark lord and completely memory loss I can for sure handle this right?" she asked.

Draco nodded and they floo'd to St. Mungos.

"DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY WE ARE NEVER HAVING SEX EVER AGAIN!" said Hermione incredibly loudly as she squeezed the life out of Draco's hand.

Hermione had only been in labor for a few hours, but the contractions were growing stronger by the minute. She wasn't normally one to complain about pain but this was getting to be too much.

"What?" asked Draco.

"Don't worry, mate. It's just the labor talking. Ginny said the same thing. Didn't mean it obviously as you look at her now," said Harry behind Draco. Ginny now had about 2 months to go herself. Harry and Ginny were with Hermione and Draco until the actual labor started. Each both needed moral support although Draco never would have seen himself ever needing Harry Potter's support before.

"Ohh no. I mean it. This is all HIS fault! I remember that perfectly again. ALL memories returned to me and I say it again… it's his fault!" said Hermione.

"I'm sorry. This will all be over soon and then just think we'll have our precious baby girl," said Draco.

"Yes well it's not over is it? It's happening right now!" said Hermione.

"Advice, Draco?" asked Ginny, "Just shut up. You'll only make it worse."

"Right," he said quietly as he tried to loosen her grasp on his now completely numb fingers. He was surprised he even had fingers left.

"This is absolutely horrible! Why did I choose to deliver here? At least in the muggle world you can get epidurals for the pain! There is absolutely nothing here!" said Hermione.

A healer walked in at that moment.

"I'm sorry, Hermione you're not far enough along for the potion which is the same thing as the epidural. If we did it now when you actually delivered then it would have worn off and you can only do this once," said the healer.

Hermione just glared at her.

"When I get out of here I'm going to invent another potion that says differently!" said Hermione.

"Oh please do!" said Ginny interrupting, "Before I have this one!"

"I'll work on it," grunted Hermione as she pushed through the pain.

A few hours later with a very irritated Hermione and a very concerned Draco (now Hermione was threatening a few more terrible things…) a healer came in with the potion Hermione had been dying to have.

"Oh thank Merlin I've been spared! How long does it take to work?" she asked.

"Not long. It's fast acting but also like I said fast ending as well. You should be ready to actually deliver soon," said the healer.

"What? No! I'm not ready!" said Hermione.

"Hermione, all you've been doing is complaining about the pain and you don't want to deliver anymore?" asked Draco.

Hermione threw a look at him, "Have you been paying attention at all? Of course I'm in pain. I'm DYING really but I never said anything about actually having her! What if I'm a terrible mother?"

Draco gave Hermione a loving look.

"Love, you are great with children. Just think of Lily and James who adore you. You will do just fine with our baby. Trust me," said Draco.

"Ok… maybe… yeah I guess," she said.

"I love you," said Draco.

For the first time in a while, Hermione smiled at Draco.

"I love you too," she said.

Draco leaned down and quickly kissed her.

"Ok. I think everything is ready!" said the healer.

Hermione bit her lip nervously.

"Hermione everything will be just fine. You can actually trust me on that. I've done it before… twice. You only have one baby," said Ginny, "But good luck. We'll see you and your new little girl soon!"

"Yeah we'll be just outside," said Harry.

"Thanks guys," she said and turned her focus back on Draco by grabbing his hand and death gripping it again.

After what seemed like FOREVER to Hermione, they heard a little cry as their baby had finally arrived.

"How does she look?" asked Hermione who was too tired to get up. Draco had followed the healer who had taken their baby to weigh and clean her up a bit.

The look on Draco's face said it all.

"She's perfect," he said.

The healer surprised him by quickly turning around and offering her to him.

"Here, you can hold her now," said the healer.

"Wait what? I don't… " he started but she didn't listen and simply put the tiny fragile little girl into his arms. He held her close, afraid he would break her. Draco was completely hooked – she had him wrapped around her finger and she couldn't even talk.

He carefully walked over to take her to Hermione. Hermione gently took her from his arms. They both just looked at their daughter. She was a good combination of both of them but Hermione was please she took more after her father - blonde hair, silvery eyes.

"What should we name our gorgeous little girl?" asked Hermione.

"Lydia. You pick the middle name," said Draco.

"Lydia Rose," said Hermione looking at her with tears in her eyes.

Draco leaned over to kiss his daughter on the forehead and then kissed his wife soundly on the lips.

"I love you so much, Hermione. Thanks for giving me you and now Lydia," he said.

"I love you too, Draco. I'm sorry about earlier… I was a bit testy wasn't I?" she asked.

"A bit?" he asked and smirked at her.

"Shut up," said Hermione.

"I will if you give her back to me," said Draco.

Hermione smiled at him and handed her back over. She was tired anyways and her new favorite thing in the world as of a few minutes ago was watching her husband hold their daughter.

"I'm going to quick take her to see Ginny and Harry and then come back," said Draco.

"Ok. Just be careful," said Hermione.

"Of course I will. She's breakable," said Draco.

Draco walked outside to Ginny and Harry.

"She's adorable!" said Ginny as she tried to take her from Draco.

Draco tightened his hold and moved Lydia slightly out of Ginny's grasp.

"I can't hold her?" asked Ginny.

"I told Hermione I would be quick," said Draco, "Besides I just got her. I'm not letting her go."

"Wow. She's a Malfoy clone," said Harry.

Draco threw a look at Harry.

"Sorry," said Harry backing up. He should have known, don't joke about a Malfoy child... Draco doesn't take it as a joke.

"Well we'll let you get back to Hermione. Congratulations," said Ginny.

"Yeah, congratulations," said Harry.

"Thanks," said Draco. He watched them leave and then turned back to see Hermione. He was slightly glad to see her asleep. He wasn't done holding her yet. He probably wouldn't ever be.

11 Years Later...

Draco was sitting in his study flipping through pictures of his darling little princess, Lydia. She was turning 11 and was now ready to go to Hogwarts. He didn't want her to leave - she was his pride and joy - but she had to. What kind of father held their child back? She was their only girl. They had two others boys now ages 8 and 4 with another one on the way... Hermione was hoping for another girl but Draco hoped it was another boy so he could keep his princess.

"Daddy? Can I come in?" asked Lydia who was knocking on his door.

Draco hurriedly shoved the pictures into his desk and said, "Of course."

She walked and he immediately could tell something was wrong.

"Is everything ok?" he asked.

She shook her head looking sad.

"Come here," said Draco.

She looked a bit happier as she went to sit on her dad's lap. She knew she was getting too big for this and if anyone found out they would make fun of her but she loved her dad.

"I'm scared," she said.

"Of what?" he asked.

"Hogwarts... and the houses. Would you be sad if I wasn't in Slytherin?" she asked quietly.

"Of course not," he said, "Any house would be lucky to have you... but please not Hufflepuff. That's not what you want right?"

Lydia laughed, "Eww no!"

"Good," he said, "But really. Anything is fine. I just want you to work as hard as you can. I won't be disappointed if you're not in Slytherin. Which house did you want?"

"I wasn't sure. I just didn't want you to be sad if I wasn't Slytherin. Maybe Gryffindor. Maybe Ravenclaw."

"Well, either way I'm proud of you," said Draco giving his daughter a squeeze.

"Thanks, daddy!" she said giving him a hug back, "Well I need to go. I have to pack my cutest clothes for... for... well you know who."

James was her crush. She was crushing so hard she couldn't even say his name. Draco was NOT happy about it and wanted to threaten the kid within an inch of his life but he couldn't do anything to upset his princess.

"Right. Get your mother to help you with that one. I'll take the boys outside or something," said Draco trying not to think about it.

"I love you, daddy," she said when she reached the door.

"I love you too, Lydia," he said and smiled at her.

She quickly ran away and Draco took the boys out so the girls could talk about girl things.

The next day the entire family went to the train station. They went through the barrier and approached the train.

"Ok, have you got everything, sweetheart?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah. I think so. Oh mom! There he is! How do I look?" asked Lydia.

Draco gritted his teeth but didn't say anything.

"You look lovely," said Hermione.

Lydia blushed. Hermione patted Draco's arm trying not to laugh at him.

"Eww, you like boys?" asked Scorpius, the youngest Malfoy.

"It's none of your business," said Lydia.

"Ok, I think it's time for you to get on the train," said Hermione.

"Alright," said Lydia. She hugged both her brothers and then her mother. Then she went and gave her father an extra long hug.

"Remember. Any house and I'll be proud ok?" he said in her ear.

"Ok. Love you daddy. I'll write," she said.

"You better after getting that expensive owl you wanted. I love you too though," he said.

She gave one last wave and followed Lily and James onto the train.

"I think you'll miss your little princess more than I will," said Hermione quietly to Draco.

"Maybe," said Draco as he watched the train leave, "Thank you Hermione for our 3 1/2 perfect children."

He turned to her and kissed her on the lips surprising her with a little more force than was normal in public.

After turning a deep red herself she said, "I love you."

"I love you too. So much," he said.

THE END

Aww Draco's a daddy. Cute! Anyways sorry it took me a bit longer than normal to get this up! School just took over my life completely so it's good that this is ending. Hope you liked it!

P.S. Thanks for the reviews! You guys are awesome readers! Especially my regulars :) Love your comments haha. Thanks again!