He awoke to the rise and fall of another beside him. Warily, Draco looked to find the one person he loved and adored laying on his chest. Her unrestrained chestnut curls served to make her appear even wilder than she had during the night. He smiled at the memory and hoped they would have many more similar nights in the future. Never did Draco imagine that he would be in this very position, nor less did he think he would ever have the opportunity to know such a glorious woman.

Draco's stomach rumbled out of hunger but he was loath to leave the bed. Hermione seemed so peaceful in her repose. She deserved the rest. The past few weeks had been more than miserable for the both of them. Hermione was never meant for Weasley. Their connection was more of two people forced to work due to other people's expectations. Her passion and tenacity for bettering others was Weasley's bane but his own salvation. Draco could never take away those things. Everything they worked for, fought over, and did was worth the wait.

His musings brought him to the day that changed his life forever – the day he went to the Ministry to discuss his new ideas. Whoever that Hermione-look-alike was, he was grateful that she had bumped into him. How she had forgiven him for his former sins, he would never know. A smile grace his lips as he gently pet her hair. They would have to talk later but for now, he would simply enjoy her presence.

"You realise that I know you're pregnant, right?" Draco announced one night when the kids had been put to bed.

Her mouth dropped opened. Damn, Hermione thought. She had been so careful. Hermione was four months along.

"Not to burst your smart, sneaky bubble but I have seen you pregnant before. Eating nutella with strawberry ice cream and onions kind of tipped me off, love." he pointed out.

"How long have you known?"

"How long were you going to hide it?" he retorted.

"Touche."

"Hermione." giving a warning in his voice.

" I would have said something... soon."

"At the hospital, perhaps?"

"No." He raised an eyebrow. "Fine. Not until I showed."

" Haven't I proven to you that I'm trust worthy?"

"Yes."

"The what is your problem?!"

"My problem is that it's the other Draco's baby. Not yours."

Draco snorted. "So? It's still me."

"You're not angry?"

"Why would I be? I know you were having an affair with me. Rose is proof of that, for Merlin's sake!"

"I know, it's just that I thought you would think it wasn't."

Draco walked over to her and hugged her snugly from behind. "Has anyone told you how incredibly paranoid you are?"

He earned a smack and a smile before he was tackled to the ground.

"Perhaps."

EPILOGUE

Rose and Scorpius were preparing to head over to King's Cross Station. They would be boarding the Hogwarts Express for the first time.

"Rose! Did you remember all of your books?" Hermione hollered to the upstairs of her modest two-story home.

"Yes, Mum!"

"And Scorpius, dear, you packed all of your socks and knickers, yes?"

Silence preceded his answer. "Yeah!" Hermione smirked to herself. Thank Merlin the house elves were being paid to do his laundry over there. Otherwise, none of it would be remembered or washed.

The years had been kind to Hermione. She had become curvaceous but still appealing. Her husband, however, was not as fortunate. Draco now had a receding hair line and a slight pouch to his otherwise lanky frame. He was currently reading The Quibbler with his new reading glasses.

"Darling, are you nervous as I am about letting them go?" she asked.

"You knew this day would come, Mione. It's their turn for adventure."

"I suppose so. I do hope they have a better go at it than we did."

"That remains to be seen, love. Though, I wonder if either of them will land in Slytherin." Hermione snickered at his conjuncture.

"I'd think bloody not. More likely Ravenclaw if anything." Draco raised his glass in agreement.

"Too true, my dear. Too true. Those two are too smart for their own good. They get it from you, I believe."

"Hardly. You are very ingenious, if I say so myself." She kissed his forehead.

"Whichever house they will belong to, I'm sure they'll be fine."

"I hope so." He took her hands and grasped it within his own.

"We have done the best that we could have. We have to have faith that they will choose the right things." Her face searched his for something more. "Don't think on it any longer. We'll deal with it as it comes."

Scorpius and Rose appeared in the kitchen. "Ready for breakfast?" their father inquired. Neither of them spoke as they devoured the food on their plates.

"I'll take that as a yes."

The family arrived at Platform 9 ¾ to see the Potters and the Weasley-Parkinsons. Albus Potter and Lavinia Weasley were to be first-years too. The four of them whispered excitedly amongst themselves while their parents chatted.

"Which house do you expect Albus will get in?" asked Draco.

Ron muttered an almost imperceptible "Slytherin", to which Harry gave him a bit of a shove.

Clearing his throat, Harry said loudly "No matter which house Albus ends up in, we will still love him."

Albus, who had been listening closely to this reaction, turned to animatedly to his companions.

"Er, I suppose I'd do the same?" Ron said unsurely. The others laughed.

"Mate, if your kid ends up in Hufflepuff, I will laugh." his raven friend assured him. Draco laughed right along with Harry, causing Ron to redden with embarrassment.

"Oh, laugh it up now. Just you two wait!"

Sensing that the train would be embarking soon, all three families urged helped their children onto the train. As they waved from the platform, Draco and Hermione held onto Hugo and Caelum's hand. While the others favoured one parent, their youngest was a perfect blend of the two of them. Not one of Caelum's features belonged exclusively to his parents. His hair colouring had also strayed from the others by turning into a dark blonde. This one was a loose canon as far as Draco was concerned. Neither knew what to expect with Caelum. Hermione was sure that she would gain more than her fair share of grays when his turn to go to Hogwarts came up.

"Say, do you fancy handing these two buggers over to your parents?" Draco suggested. Hermione took one look at her two remaining sons before nodding her assent. After saying their goodbyes as quickly as possible, the Malfoy family apparated home. Besides, how else would they spend their time "missing" their children?

AN: Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed. Three thousand views/reads in less than 24 hours has left me floored! Wow! What an ego boost after a lousy day at work lol!

And to answer a guest reviewer who said: "One thing that confuses me is what happened to the Hermione that got
married to Draco? I understand that the timeline changed, but if it's like an
alternate universe type thing then there should have been two Hermione's. The
one that experienced everything with Draco, and the one that was married to
Ron. To me it just seems like there is a big plot hole here, although it was a
good story and I enjoyed it. It just seemed that either there should have been
either the two Hermiones. or the one Hermione that was there as well as Rose
should have gained the memories somehow..."

You're right. I forgot to put that in. But, now you've inspired a one shot! :)