“Ooooh, look at this, Julia! Isn’t this gorgeous!” A young woman, probably in her early twenties sat in a recently opened cafe in Diagon Alley gushing over a glossy magazine ad, featuring a beautiful cluster of five round brilliant cut diamonds in a W pattern, set in an elaborately twisted band that was studded with tiny seed pearls, modeled by a dainty hand with a pretty french manicure.
“Do you think that’s Judas’ wife’s hand? They say she models for him.” The two women’s giggling caught the attention of another woman, a red head about to leave with her non-fat triple hazelnut soy latte. She eyed the magazine they were giggling over and her eyes widened. The ring was gorgeous, unique. She wanted it.
“Excuse me, where did you get that magazine?” The red head politely inquired.
The two witches looked at the one inquiring. “Ginny Weasley!” They gasped. “Is Harry Potter finally proposing?”
Irritated at their candor but decidedly intrigued by the unique ring, Ginny Weasley pasted a fake smile on her face and replied, “That’s private but that ring is really pretty, where can I get one of those?”
The women preened at the attention of a pseudo celebrity. After all, Ginny was a Weasley. A family of heros that fought with Harry Potter during the war almost 15 years ago. She’d been with Harry for all that while, though they never married, which was a whole thing in the Wizarding world. She was also a rather popular quidditch player, starting line up for the Holyhead Harpies, even!
“Well, it’s muggle. It’s from a really exclusive jewelry store in London. The designer makes one of a kind pieces, like this. There’s no other one like this.” The one named Julia said.
“Oh?” Ginny’s eyebrows raised. Muggle eh? She internally wrinkled her nose, but the word “exclusive” latched on to her. “And what’s the shop’s name?”
“It’s called the Dragon’s Hoard. They have regular pieces too, very pretty but what you really want are the ones by Judas.”
“Judas. Got it. And this one, modeled by his wife you say?” Why Ginny was asking, she didn’t know, but the mystery was intriguing. She liked the idea of having something no one else, specially in the Wizarding world. After all, she had Harry Potter, a one of a kind engagement ring is just what she deserves.
“Ooooh they’re so mysterious!” The other one said in a hushed whisper, as if anyone cared Ginny scoffed internally. “Married about five years ago, I heard it was a childhood sweethearts thing.”
“No! I heard it was an enemies to lovers thing!” Julia interjected.
“Oh, I dunno, all I know is she didn’t see him for years and she didn’t know he even liked her. They saw each other again when he was exhibiting a painting of her! They got together after that and married after a couple of years. No one’s ever seen them, honestly, it’s like they’re ghosts. But there are clues.”
“Clues?” Ginny asked.
“Yeah, every piece he releases has something to do with her. With them. This ring? It’s called the Cassiopeia, named after their daughter. There’s a men’s ring called the Scorpion, for their son. He’s so in love with his wife, it’s so romantic, every piece is dedicated to her and their family.” The young woman sighed wistfully, and Ginny had had enough.
Thanking them for their time, Ginny went to the nearest apparation point brimming with excitement. She had a wizard to catch.
-.-.-.-.-
It took a couple of weeks, but Ginny was finally able to wear Harry down enough to at least come with her to muggle London and check out the jewelry shop. Ginny knew she could do it. After all, she was the one who was there for him through all these years. After his friendship broke with Ron broke down because Harry refused to tell him where Hermione is when she left. She was his constant, and she never let him forget it.
Walking to the all black and gold establishment, almost dragging Harry by the arm, she was impressed. Who knew muggles had shops that looked like this? It screamed wealth and entitlement. Years ago, she wouldn’t even dare come near a place like this, but the war had changed things and the Weasleys came up on top. Which is exactly what they deserved, Ginny thought.
Ginny Weasley, former wearer of hand me downs, marched right up the ornate glass and metal doors of the shop and pushed her way in as if she belonged there, because she did. She finally did.
A shop assistant greeted them and she smiled, looking around the place. It was filled top to bottom with glass cases and mirrored walls, plush black velvet seats situated along one side where patrons can lounge while checking out jewelry.
“Welcome to The Dragon’s Hoard. Are you looking for something particular today or just browsing?”
“Just —-“ Harry started.
“Rings, engagement rings to be exact. The more unique the better.” Ginny rushed to cut Harry off.
The shop assistant didn’t even bat an eyelash and escorted them to a far corner where the seats were bigger, more like love seats.
Sitting down, they were asked if they wanted anything to drink. Never having been used to this kind of service, Ginny asked what they have and the assistant only smiled a condescending smile and said, anything they wanted. She asked for champagne and Harry asked if they had whiskey. Both were provided within minutes.
Once they were settled the same assistant asked them particular questions. Design, gems, tastes, etc. Ginny got into the groove of things as Harry slumped deeper and deeper into the seat.
Tray after tray of rings were paraded in front of them but Ginny didn’t see anything she wanted, she wanted exclusive, unique, the bigger the better. Thinking of how to get it, she asked the lady,
“Is it possible to speak to Judas? Maybe a more bespoke ring is more to my taste?” She learned that word - bespoke - from Hermione back when she was living with them after the war.
The witch came from money and knew of all these things Ginny didn’t. It was one of the few reasons Ginny ever even tried to get close to her one-time almost-sister-in-law. The girl had expensive taste and the money to back it up. Her mother was appalled by Hermione’s choices for her almost-wedding, thinking them too extravagant and rich for their humble home. Ginny disagreed and soaked up all the high class knowledge Hermione could impart. That is, before she up and left her brother. The bitch.
The shop assistant raised a brow at the question, but only nodded, saying she was going to get someone else who can help them better.
A few minutes later, a woman came out, her eyes down on the tablet she was frowning on, which was perched on her obviously pregnant belly, hiding half her face from them.
Dressed in a very casual but rich looking green and white summer dress, the woman’s rich brown curls were piled up on her head, held by a gorgeous serpentine hair clip that looked to be made of emeralds and onyx. A single strand of flawless pearls adorned her wrist while on her ring finger was the most brilliant diamond ring, it wasn’t ostentatiously huge but the cut was dazzling and it was surrounded by smaller purple and blue stones, there was no mistaking the craftsmanship of the ring, it looked like a star in its intricate lattice band. The woman screamed quiet luxury like no other.
The woman lowered the tablet, handing it over to the assistant and smiled in their direction, making Ginny, Harry and the woman gasp.
“Hermione?” Harry was first to recover himself, launching his body across the glass counter to hug the witch, which was quite a feat considering her swollen middle.
“Oh my gosh, Harry!” Hermione Granger was genuinely happy to see her friend. They haven’t seen each other in seven years but they communicated via owl at least twice or thrice a year. Christmas and each of their birthdays.
Ginny Weasley was left fuming at the side, also standing. How dare this witch come in here looking like she walked out of a fashion magazine? Objectively she knew Hermione was pretty, but looking at her right now, the witch was absolutely glowing, it was not fair. After what she put her brother through, Hermione didn’t deserve to be happy.
The witch in question turned to her saying, “Ginny. Hi.” With a small smile.
“Traitor.” Ginny said crossing her arms on her chest.
“Gin —“ Harry started.
“No, Harry, she walked out on my brother the week of their wedding! She’s a traitor and a cheater!”
Hermione’s voice was low, “I’d appreciate it if you don’t shout inside my shop or else I’d have to have security escort you out.”
“Your shop?! You’re Judas’ wife?!” Ginny was losing it. No, it can’t be. Hermione Granger can’t be the woman this exclusive designer was so in love with that he dedicated every piece to her! Not when she had to bribe, plead and practically drag Harry to come here in the first place! It just wasn’t fair! Why does the witch get everything!
Hermione only smiled. “Yes. That’s me. This is my husband’s and my shop, so please, conduct yourself or you may see yourself out.”
“Does your husband know you’re a cheating whore?” Ginny hissed. Harry was pulling at her now, she wasn’t sure if he wanted her to sit down or leave.
“I assure you, Gin, my husband knows exactly who I am. And he loves me for it.” This confidence, it was not the swotty, know it all confidence she knew from school. This was the confidence of a woman who knew herself and who absolutely knew she was loved and trusted and cherished. It was disgusting!
“Yeah? Ron never was rich enough for you, was he, Hermione?! You’re the reason my brother is broken! You broke him, because you wanted some rich, snobby asshole instead of the sweet boy who loved you! You’re nothing but a gold digging whore!”
Ginny tried to reach and smack the witch, but strong arms held her, she barely registered that she was being escorted out by two beefy guys, all she could see was Hermione and her jewel encrusted clip and her ring and Harry talking quietly to her before running after Ginny.
-.-.-.-.-
Rubbing her aching back, Hermione stepped out of the huge fireplace into a well appointed sitting room of her home in Montpelier Square in Knightsbridge. Normally, she would have driven or even walked from their shop in Mayfair as it was just a short distance away, but she wanted to be home quicker, so she used the emergency floo her husband had connected from their private office in The Dragon’s Hoard to their home.
She was stretching her back after putting her bag down on the nearest armchair when said husband entered the room, platinum locks in disarray as it was currently being pulled on by the equally blonde toddler he had on his hip.
“Bad day, love?” He asked as he reached her.
Mindful of the still busy toddler, Draco Malfoy reached one arm around his very pregnant wife and leaned in to give her a brief, but sweet kiss on the lips.
Opening her eyes, Hermione Malfoy only sighed. “You could say that.” She said weakly. “Hey, Cassie, no hug for mummy?”
She addressed the little girl who was way too invested in putting what looked like butterfly clips on the back of her father’s medium length hair.
Without even looking up from where she was trying to grab fistfuls of Draco’s hair, 2 year old Cassiopeia Malfoy only grunted and said
“No, dada on-ee!”
Chuckling, Hermione dropped a kiss on her daughter’s cheek and waddled her way to a plush light blue sofa, grunting as she lowered herself and lifted her tired feet.
“Where’s Score?”
“Painting. As usual.” Their son has definitely inherited his father’s artistic tendencies and his parents indulged him. They had converted one of the first floor bedrooms of the townhouse into a combined office and art room for the whole family to enjoy.
Dropping into the sofa beside her and lifting her feet on his lap while repositioning his daughter, Draco looked at his tired wife, worried.
“What happened?”
“Ginny Weasley happened.”
“Weasley? In London? In our shop? Or did you go to Diagon?” His tone belied his worry so Hermione didn’t mind the questioning.
“I promised I only needed to drop by the shop to check inventory. She came in with Harry, wanting an engagement ring and asking for Judas.”
“Potter finally making an honest woman out of her?”
“You know what? I dunno. Harry didn’t look like he wanted to be there.”
She looked over at her husband who looked like he was going to say something snarky, and decided to cut him off
“I know what you’re gonna say, but I already told you. Harry needs the Weasleys, after the war, they were all he had. He feels like keeping Ginny was the only way to have them. I’m sure after the way they treated me after my break up with Ron, it scared him even more to lose them.”
“I have so many things I could say about that statement.”
“Don’t. Just massage my feet coz they are killing me, please?”
Huffing and again readjusting his daughter who seems to have moved on to trying to clip his ears instead of his hair, he only sighed. “Anything for you, dearest.”
-.-.-.-.-
Having found out where she worked, it took no time at all before Harry Potter scheduled a meet up with Hermione. The witch readily agreed, giving Harry their address. It took a bit of cajoling her husband, but in the end Draco agreed, it was time.
Opening the door of their three story townhouse to admit her childhood friend, Hermione beamed at the dark haired man.
Harry Potter has not changed in all these years. Though Hermione all but withdrew from the Wizarding world after the fall out of her and Ron’s separation, she still kept up with current events. She knew that Harry was now Head Auror and was doing a great job of it.
“Harry!” She hugged her friend who offered her flowers and wine. “Oh, you shouldn’t have!”
“It’s only proper! Mrs. Malfoy would kill me if I went to dinner empty handed.” Harry smiled at her. Her own smiled faltered a bit.
“You’re close to Mrs. Malfoy?” She asked.
“Oh yeah, she send me that letter before your wedding remember? When you left I decided to take her up on the invitation to tea and well, we have tea regularly now. If you ask me, she’s lonely. Draco hasn’t been home since he got his inheritance nine years ago. He just sends her letters from time to time.”
Hermione looked decidedly nervous now. Herding Harry towards the sitting room, she glanced around. Every picture frame had pictures of their family. It might as well be her to tell Harry, she was about to when he found the picture of the twins.
“Uhm.. Hermione, why do these kids look like Malfoy?” Her friend peered at her with knowing eyes.
“Because they are Malfoys. I married Draco, Harry.”
“He’s Judas?” Harry’s eyes looked as wide as saucers, looking from the frame he was holding, to her, to her belly.
“Yes. He felt abandoned in the Wizarding world so he turned to the muggle one. We’ve been living here since we got married. Previously, he had an apartment in Mayfair, but it was too small for a family.”
“Is he treating you well, Hermione?” He loved this about Harry, always putting everyone’s feeling first, regardless of what he might himself feel.
“Yes, Harry. Very much so. I’m actually very spoiled.” She said with a small laugh.
Harry put the frame down and came to hug her. “I’m glad. You deserve everything, Hermione. I’m sorry I was a shitty friend.”
“Oh Harry, you weren’t!” Detangling herself and gesturing for them to sit down, she said, “Ronald did what he always did. I just couldn’t take the harassing and the stalking anymore. I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch more, it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”
“Still. I should have chosen you. I was so scared of losing the Weasleys that I didn’t see that I lost the only family I had. You were… are my family Hermione. The Weasley’s love was conditional, yours never were. You never asked me to choose, even when Ron and Ginny gave you such a hard time, or when Molly’s coddling drove you up the wall.”
“Harry…” she took his hand and squeezed. “You are always going to be my brother, and my best friend. You are always welcome here, I will never leave you again.”
Harry looked at her with love and gratitude. “Good. Coz I broke up with Ginny.”
He smiled, knowing they were going to be okay.
-.-.-.-.-
Turns out, without bigoted parents and a homicidal maniac living in one’s home, Draco and Harry had a lot in common. Dinners at Knightsbridge became a regular thing, so did quidditch matches at Malfoy Manor, once Harry was able to convince Draco to visit his mother.
Draco had been hesitant at first. He loved his mother, there was no doubt about that, but after the war, she retreated on herself, even when it was just the two of them trying to make do in the muggle world, their possessions frozen by the Ministry. Narcissa didn’t even try to assimilate to their new surroundings and it broke Draco’s heart.
Once their assets were returned to them, Draco wasted no time reinstating his mother in the Manor and staying away, sure that her life as a pureblood society wife would be so much better if he was not around. Harry disabused him of that notion.
Draco’s self imposed isolation was what broke through Narcissa’s self depreciation. She worked hard to reestablish the Malfoy name in society, wanting to make sure that Draco be welcomed back once he was ready. Writing a long apology letter to those they had wronged had been the first step. Harry and Hermione got theirs, Hermione penned a polite letter, accepting the apology but declining tea just weeks before her never-to-be wedding and much to Ron’s chagrin as he burned his own letter from Narcissa. It seemed that Harry showed up for tea and built a lasting friendship with the witch.
They commiserated together, both not having appreciated the people in their lives who stayed out of the right reasons, despite their selfishness. It also opened Narcissa’s eyes to the ills of society, making her a staunch advocate of muggle born and creature rights. It took several weeks of pushing on Harry’s part for Draco to finally meet his mother.
The reunion was an emotional one, and the one after, where Draco introduced his wife and children was even more so. Narcissa loved Hermione right away and absolutely doted on her grandchildren. Hermione embraced the feeling of having a mother again and the twins, in turn adored their Nana Cissa.
Narcissa also convinced the couple that it was for the best that Hermione give birth in St. Mungo’s. Their tales of Ceasarian Section when the twins were born almost made the pureblood witch ill and she was determined that her next grandchild be born the right way. Hermione and Draco could hardly say no, as Hermione spent two months on bed rest after the twins were born due to complications of giving birth.
They also determined that they would semi-assimilate back into Wizarding society once their third child was born. After all, it was their kids’ world too. They deserved to know it, and with Nana Cissa’s assurance that she had society well in hand, the couple agreed it was for the best that they also semi-lived in the Manor. After all, having three children under the age of three was a big task for fully working parents.
Narcissa had fully renovated the place, removing all traces of Voldemort. What surprised them was that Harry was an active participant during the renovations, finding freedom in destroying the rooms that Voldemort and his followers frequented, specially that room. It paved the way for Hermione to be truly comfortable in the Manor and it helped, that when the time came, they were living almost the whole week there already.
“Dracoooo! Draco!” Hermione screamed through another contraction as she tried to breathe and look for her husband at the same time. She found Narcissa in the solarium instead.
“Hermione, is it time darling?” The older witch immediately got to work, summoning elves, their hospital bag and sending her manx cat patronus to find Draco.
“The kids. They need to go down for a nap, Draco’s painting…” Hermione panted.
Narcissa herded the pregnant witch towards the floo room on that floor. “He will get there on time, you and that baby are more important.”
“I can’t do this without Dracooooo!” The witch wailed as another contraction hit.
“Now, now, darling, we need to bring you to hospital, your contractions are quite close.”
Narcissa almost bodily forced the witch through the floo, calling out St. Mungo’s.
There was a confused and near hysterical panic at the hospital when Narcissa Malfoy came in with a very pregnant and much in labor Hermione Granger. The medi-witches and healers had to contain themselves and their patients as the hospital’s top donor barked orders for her daughter in law to be admitted and seen right away.
The buzz grew to near fever pitch when a disheveled Draco Malfoy followed not two minutes later, carrying one toddler in each arm, both of whom had platinum blonde curls. Draco was almost screaming to be heard above the din that the years missing witch and wizard had caused.
“My wife! Hermione Malfoy was just admitted, where is she?” Draco hissed at the star struck receptionist. The poor witch could barely point Draco in the direction of the maternity ward and the wizard tore through the halls, kids in tow.
“Dracoooooo!”
Draco Malfoy all but dropped his kids into his mother’s waiting arms in the room before he placed himself beside his wife on the bed.
“I’m here love, I’m here.” He murmured as he held Hermione’s hand and pressed kisses on her sweaty forehead.
Hermione tried to smile through the pain.
She was going to be okay. Her husband was here, even if the world seemed to have gone crazy when they saw her. Everything was going to be fine. Draco was with her.
-.-.-.-.-
Lyra Narcissa Malfoy was born not two hours later, signature platinum blonde curls prominent in her features. Hermione sighed that none of her children looked like her even though she was the one who “baked” them in her oven for nine months.
Harry Potter had to fight the crowds to get to his sister’s room, calling for Aurors to guard the door and control the nosy witches and wizards who wanted a glimpse of the witch who cheated and left Ron Weasley for the handsome, seemingly reformed Death Eater prince.
Or so the evening papers had reported. Not even four hours and Skeeter already had the news breaking all over Britain.
The savior of the Wizarding world smiled as he saw his family on the hospital bed. Hermione’s bed was enlarged, as the twins wanted to sleep beside their mother. Draco was sat in an armchair beside the bed holding a tiny pink bundle in his arms, Narcissa in a matching chair on the other side, looking proudly on.
“I thought witches who just gave birth were supposed to look like shit. Why, my sister looks absolutely radiant!” He said in lieu of greeting.
“Harry!” Said radiant witch exclaimed, glad to have her brother with them. Her family was complete.
Draco stood up, cradling the bundle in his arms tenderly, “Come here Potter, meet your goddaughter.”
Harry’s steps faltered. “Godfather?”
Hermione smiled. “Of course, who else would we pick? By the way, the twins also don’t have any magical godparents, so tag, you’re it!”
Harry Potter felt tears prick his eyes as overwhelming joy filled his heart. He finally found peace.
-.-.-.-.-
There was pandemonium in the Weasley household as news of Hermione and Draco Malfoy hit the papers.
Ginny Weasley was said to be fuming daily as more and more stories of the Malfoy’s prefect life and family came out of the news. She was put on probation from work as she almost bashed another player’s head with a bludger. The funny thing was the she hit her teammate and she wasn’t even a beater.
Ron Weasley was quoted in several newspapers spewing venom on the couple, claiming that they cheated on him, but was easily disproved when the Golden Boy himself put out an article outlining the timeline of the Malfoy’s marriage - which wasn’t even until after a year of her and Ron’s break up, as Hermione didn’t even go out on a date with Malfoy until a few months after their reunion at his art auction. The ginger could never hold on to a job as the moment the Malfoys were even mentioned by anyone, he would lose his temper and affect whatever work he has going on. And truth be told, the Malfoys were mentioned a lot!
Meanwhile Molly Weasley was absolutely enraged when her children - George and Bill - to be exact had partnered with the Malfoys to bring The Dragon’s Hoard into the wizarding world. George and Bill provided the charms and counter curses to the jewelry they sold at their Diagon Alley shop, which opened exactly on Lyra’s first birthday. Mrs. Weasley had become persona non-grata in most social circles as she continues to disparage Draco and specially Hermione to anyone who would listen. Not that a lot listens, the community as a whole adored the Malfoys.
Their love story was told several times and several versions over that Hermione had to write a small book version of the events to keep it factual.
And Harry? Harry found his person at his fourth godchild’s birth. Returning from years wandering the globe, a very worldly and very tan Theodore Nott came to visit his friend’s second son Leo (eye roll from every Slytherin in the room) and promptly fell in love with the savior of wizardom.
..and as they say, they all lived happily ever after.