Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters or elements of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter. Anything written here is purely for entertainment and will not be making any profit.

~ Sometimes It Lasts In Love ~

Epilogue

A door buzzer sounded in a Westminster flat. A young child, not much more than a year old and holding the side of his playpen for support, squawked in response. His father dashed about, packing up the last remaining boxes and suitcases in the flat, ensuring there would be enough food for the next day and clean clothes to wear.

The blonde man was almost intent on ignoring their would-be visitor, had it not been for his son's persistent screeching.

'Alright, Scorp! That's enough. I'll see who it is.'

Hermione Granger, still in her wedding dress, had been pressing the buzzer of the address she'd been given for one Draco Malfoy.

The man she loved.

After her fifth press, and no sign of life from the intercom, or the front door of the apartment building. She slumped against the door frame.

She couldn't believe it.

She had missed him.

She was so sure of the date she'd been given, but he must have left the country earlier.

She slid to the ground in despair, not caring for any damage to her dress, the mascara stains already spoiling its pristine, white colouring.

Feeling desolate, and not about to cry on a street corner, Hermione stood up and brushed herself off. Determined to find some other way to contact him, she stepped away from the front of the building.

The buzzer had stopped by the time Draco picked up the intercom phone, more keen on settling his son than receiving a visitor.

'Hello?' Draco spoke into the phone, a bored tone saturating his voice. He had long ago dampened the feeling of hope that used to spring up in him every time the phone had sounded.

He knew Hermione wasn't coming. Despite what Potter and Weaslette-Potter might have told him, assured him, he knew she couldn't drop everything for him. She wasn't that type of person. He loved her for it, but at times that side of her personality could be quite frustrating.

'Hello? Anyone there?' He spoke again. Realising there would be no reply, Draco hung the phone up on the wall.

'See, Scorp? Someone probably just pressed the wrong button.'

Hermione dashed back, retracing the few steps she had taken down the street.

She had been certain, certain, that she'd heard his voice.

He was here! Still here! He hadn't gone without her. He was up there now, packing most likely, probably having to wade his way through boxes to get to the phone. Whatever reason, she didn't care.

She dashed up the steps, almost tripping on the hem of her dress as she slammed her hand down on the button once more.

Scorpius' squeals were heard as the phone sounded again.

Frustrated with what Draco assumed was a bunch of kids messing about outside, he wrenched the handset from its cradle and bellowed 'Yes?' quite loudly down the receiver.

After a short pause, he almost hung up again, but not before he heard a timid 'Draco?' down the line.

It was her.

No. Not possible. Today was her wedding day. The date had been ingrained into his mind since Ginny Potter had told him. Why would she be here? How could she be at his flat, the other side of London from where she was supposed to be?

'Who-Who's there?' He questioned, needing to be sure. His heart beat an erratic rhythm inside his chest, willing the telephone in his hand to realise her voice for him.

'Draco?' It was her. It was Hermione. He couldn't believe it.

'Hermione? Is that you?' He breathlessly articulated.

'Yes, it's me. Could I... Could I maybe come up?'

'Of course!' His hand already holding down the entrance button on his handset, he looked round to his son, already beaming at him, until he heard the front door click shut.

Hanging up the handset, he leaped across the room towards the one-year-old.

'Scorp, it's her! It's really her!' He crowed, swinging his child up into his arms, raising him high above his head as the infant squawked and gurgled in enjoyment.

The Malfoy pair danced around the almost empty flat, shuffling boxes out of the way to make a clear path through to each room.

A knock on the door caused them both to fall silent. Draco kissed his son's head as he placed him back into the playpen before hesitantly making his way through to the door.

What if he'd misread this? What if she was here to tell him she couldn't come with him, but thanks very much for the offer?

Struggling with his emotions, Draco wrapped his fingers around the door handle. Inhaling deeply, he opened the door to the woman who had captured his heart.

'Hermione.' He breathed.

'Draco.' She responded, her face mirroring the emotions of his own.

'You're... wearing a wedding dress?' He had meant to tell he she was beautiful, stunning, the woman he wanted to spend his life with.

'Yes,' She said, sheepishly. 'Could I come in?'

'Of course,' Draco replied, silently berating himself for leaving her outside for so long.

'I've just come from... from the hotel.' She told him, casting an eye around the packed-up flat.

Draco's heart sank. She was here to show him, to rub it in his face, that they could never be.

'W-Was the ceremony... good?' He tried to keep composed.

'I don't know. Although I'm sure they're all enjoying the Ministry-funded reception right about now.' She smiled at him. His heart leapt.

She raised her left hand, wiggling her fingers at him.

'Ron took his ring back, cancelled the wedding. He knows. He understands. They all do. They want us to be together, Draco.'

She paused, unsure of what to do, when she had no response from the man before her for a full minute.

'Draco...?'

'A-And you? Do you want us to? To be to-together I mean?'

'Oh Draco,' She beamed, taking a step towards him and sliding her arms around his neck. 'More than anything in the world.'

Laughing with utter ecstasy, he slid his strong arms around her waist lifting her into the air, almost as he had done with his son not moments ago. His son!

'Hermione! You have to meet someone!' He dragged her through to what had previously been decorated as a living room, to a playpen situated in the middle of the little remaining space, and picked up the chubby infant crested with the trademark white-blonde hair.

'Hermione, I would very much like you to meet Master Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy.'

She gasped as the toddler turned his eyes onto her own, the purity and happiness radiating from the child eradicating any doubts she had previously had about entrusting her future to the man stood next to her.

She reached out to touch the soft skin of the boy's cheek as he giggled with delight and clapped his tiny hands.

Both adults laughed along with him, as Draco, holding tightly onto Scorpius, slid his arm around his love's waist.

'And young master Malfoy, I would like to introduce you to the most marvellous woman in all the world. Miss Hermione Jean Granger.' He smiled up at her, as the child continued to laugh. Looking back down at his son, a serious expression now carved onto his face, the little boy stopped his giggles to study his father's features, an almost comical mirroring of the face above him. 'Now remember what I told you? We love her very much. And we won't ever stop loving her because she's too special to let go of. So that means minimal sicking up on her, and only the occasional peeing on her, ok mister?'

Hermione laughed at the moment shared between the two Malfoy men, as Scorpius erupted into a fit of giggles once again.

Wrapping her arms around the two, she looked up into Draco's eyes, knowing she had never made a better decision in her life.

'And I love the both of you very much, too.'

Draco grinned like he never had before, as he leaned down to capture her lips for his own, sealing their future:

One filled with much laughter, happiness, and above all,

Love.

A/N: And there we go! I had to give them a happy ending, I absolutely couldn't leave them lost and seperated. I hope this has all been relatively coherent. I will, at some point, go back over this and proof-read it, and get my beta's opinion in order to re-edit into some level of a readable story. Your reviews and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read!